Amendment 4 Makes Solar Cheaper

Amendment 4 just might be the easiest issue for Floridians to digest during this entire state and national election season.

If approved, the bi-partisan amendment will lower the cost of solar by reducing taxes.  It was passed unanimously by both chambers of the conservative Florida Legislature. and has broad support from industry, environmentalists, government and newspaper editorial boards.  Even the utility companies aren’t squawking about it.

How does it work?  Amendment 4 would change the Florida Constitution to exempt solar panels and other renewable energy equipment from both the tangible personal property tax and real property tax for 20 years.  In other words, if you install solar panels on your home or business, the county can’t increase your property value because of it.  Businesses who install solar won’t be charged the usual annual tax on moveable assets.

Why does it require an amendment to the Constitution? Because of the way the Florida Constitution is written, municipalities have the right to assess property value and all 67 Florida counties have different methodologies, according to attorney George Cavros of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.  Amendment 4 will establish one guideline for the entire state.  Cavros and others spoke at a community forum held recently by University of North Florida and the North Florida Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Why would the Legislature provide solar incentives?  Florida lags its sunny peers in solar power.  In Hawaii, 10% of power generated comes from solar.  In California:  3%.  But in Florida, only 1/10^th of 1% of customers use solar, said Cavros.  That means out of nine million electricity customers in the state, only 11,600 have rooftop solar.

“Even New Jersey, with half the population and less sun, has 43,000 solar customers,” said Cavros.

And despite the fact that the cost of solar has dropped 80% in the last decade, cost is still a factor for consumers.  So the tax relief, which isn’t a large enough amount to generate opposition from municipalities, can be a significant factor for individuals and businesses.

Who is for it and who is against it?  There doesn’t appear to be any significant opposition to the amendment, according to Pete Wilking, CEO of A1A Solar Contracting, which serves North Florida and South Georgia.

Floridians 4 Lower Energy Costs, a political action committee working to raise awareness and support of the amendment, reports more than 200 endorsements, including the Florida Retail Federation, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Realtors, the League of Women Voters, and the Sierra Club.

The bill co-sponsors are State Senator Jeff Brandes (R – St. Pete) and State Representative Lori Berman (D – Boynton Beach) and was actually written by legislators.  About 46 other elected officials from both parties (including Fernandina Beach Mayor Johnny Miller), 11 counties and municipalities, and 21 newspaper editorial boards have endorsed the amendment.

Are there two solar amendments?  Yes, but only Amendment 4 is on the August 30 primary ballot.  Amendment 1 comes up for vote in November and was written by utility companies – more on that as it gets closer to the date.

How do I vote for or against it?  A “yes” vote approves amendment and therefore tax abatement; a “no” vote would not provide the tax relief.  Passage requires 60% approval by voters in the Tuesday, August 30 primary.  Early voting is underway through Saturday, August 27.  To locate early voting locations throughout the state, click here.

Update, Sunday, 8/28/16, 9:00 a.m.:  A limited number of Florida counties will hold early voting on Sunday, August 28.  They are:  Bradford, Broward, Charlotte, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, and Palm Beach.  Here is a link to addresses and times, but voters may also want to check the individual county’s website:  http://dos.myflorida.com/media/696778/early-voting-locations-and-times-2016-primary.pdf.

For additional information and a sampling of endorsements, click on the following:

www.yeson4.org

The Florida Times Union

St. Augustine Record

Tampa Bay Times

Daytona Beach News Journal

Florida Today