Res No 040-15-14379Resolution No.040-15-14379
A Resolution of the City of South Miami in support of removing barriers to
customer-sited solar power and support for the Floridians for solar choice
ballot petition.
WHEREAS,Unlike conventional power generation,solar power generates electricity
with zeroair emissions andno water use,thereby moving the county,state,and country toa
cleaner and more sustainable energy future;and
WHEREAS,Florida hasthegreatestpotentialfor rooftop solar power of anystateinthe
eastern United States butlagsin realizing that potential;with 9 million electric utility customer
accounts,Florida has only 6,000 customer-sited solar systems.1 Less sunny states like New
Jerseyhaveover 30,000 customer-sited solar systems but only half the population of Florida;and
WHEREAS,Florida isone of onlyfivestatesinthe United States that bylaw expressly
deniescitizensand businesses thefreedomtobuysolar power electricity directly fromsomeone
other than a power company ;and
WHEREAS,allowingnon-utilitysolarproviderstoprovidesolargeneratedelectricity,
througha Power Purchase Agreement (PPA),directlyto customers can remove the upfront cost
forsolarpowersystemstohomeownersandexpandsolarpoweroptionstoresidentialand
commercialtenants-therebyexpandingthechoiceforsolarpowertoallFloridians;and
WHEREAS,instates,suchasNewYorkorNewJersey,where non-utilities canprovide
solargenerated power directlytocustomers,therehasbeensignificantsolardevelopmentinthe
residential sector.Such arrangements havedrivenanywherefrom67%(New York)to92%(New
Jersey)of residential installations in those states;and
WHEREAS,Floridaspendsabout 58 billiondollarseachyear buying carbon-based fuels
fromotherstatesandcountriestopowerourhomes,businessesandcars,whilesolar power will
keepenergydollarshereat home andcreategoodpayinglocal jobs;and
WHEREAS,Ina recent poll,74%of Floridavoterssaidthey support a proposal to
change the state's current law and allow Floridians to contract directly with solar power
1Florida Public Service Commission,Reporting Requirements for Interconnection and Net Metering Customer-
owned Renewable Generation,at:
http://www.psc.stateJI.us/utilities/electricgas/customerrenewable/2013/2013%20Net%20Metering%20Summai7
%20Spreadsheet/2013%20Net%20Metering%20Chart.pdf
2Department of Energy,et.al,Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency,at
http://www.dsireusa.org/documents/summarymaps/3rd_Party_PPA_Map.pdf
3SEIA-GTM.U.S.Solar Market Insight Report:Q3 2014.
Page 1 of 2
Res.No.040-15-14379
providersfortheirelectricity.RemovingbarrierstosolarchoicewillallowmoreFloridiansto
take advantage of the power of the sun;4
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA:
Section 1.The Mayor andCity Commission of theCity of South Miami hereby urges the
Florida Legislature to remove the barrier that limits thesale of solar-generated electricity directly
toa customer by anyone other than a power company,and alternatively supports the Floridians
forSolar Choice ballot petition toamendthe Florida Constitution to remove the barrier to
customer-sited solar power.
Section 2.This resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by vote of the
City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17thday of March 2015.
READ AND
LANG
EXEj
RM,
APPROVED
COMMISSION VOTE:5-0
Mayor Stoddard:yea
Vice Mayor Harris:Yea
Commissioner Edmond:Yea
Commissioner Liebman:Yea
Commissioner Welsh:Yea
4Northstar Opinion Research,Survey of Florida Registered Voters,October 2014,at:
http.7/www.cleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/FL_Energy_^Presentation_for_Release.pdf
Page 2 of 2
Note:
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PETITION FORM
All information onthis form,including your signature,becomes apublic record upon receipt by the Supervisor ofElections.
Under Florida law,itisafirst degree misdemeanor,punishable asprovidedins.775.082 ors.775.08,Florida Statutes,to knowingly sign more than
onepetitionforanissue.[Section 104.185,FloridaStatutes]
If allrequested information onthisformisnotcompleted,theformwillnotbevalid.
Your Name:
(Please PrintName asitappearsonyour Voter Information Card)
Your Address:
City:Zip:County:
DPlease change my legal residence address on my voter registration record to the above residence address (check box,ifapplicable).
Voter Registration Number:(or)Date of Birth
Jam a registered voterof Florida andherebypetition theSecretary ofState toplacethe following proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution onthe ballot inthe
generalelection:
BALLOT TITLE:Limits or Prevents Barriers to Local Solar Electricity Supply
BALLOT SUMMARY:Limitsorprevents government andelectricutilityimposedbarriersto supplying
localsolarelectricity.Localsolarelectricitysupplyisthenon-utilitysupplyofsolargeneratedelectricity
fromafacilityratedupto2megawattsto customers atthesameor contiguous propertyasthe facility.
Barriersincludegovernmentregulationoflocalsolarelectricitysuppliers'rates,serviceandterritory,and
unfavorableelectricutilityrates,charges,ortermsofserviceimposedonlocalsolar electricity customers.
ARTICLE AND SECTION BEING CREATED OR AMENDED:Add new Section 29 to Article X
FULL TEXT OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT:
Section 29.Purchase andsale of solar electricity.-
(a)PURPOSE ANDINTENT.Itshallbethepolicy of thestateto encourage andpromotelocal small-scale solar-generated electricity
productionandtoenhancetheavailability of solarpowertocustomers.Thissectionisintendedtoaccomplishthispurposebylimiting
andpreventingregulatoryandeconomicbarriersthatdiscouragethesupplyofelectricitygeneratedfromsolarenergysourcesto
customerswhoconsumetheelectricityatthesameoracontiguouspropertyasthesite of thesolarelectricityproduction.Regulatory
andeconomicbarriersincluderate,serviceandterritoryregulationsimposedbystateorlocalgovernmentonthosesupplyingsuch
localsolarelectricity,and imposition by electric utilities of specialrates,fees,charges,tariffs,ortermsandconditions of serviceon
theircustomersconsuminglocalsolarelectricitysuppliedbyathirdpartythatarenotimposedontheir other customers of thesame
typeorclasswhodonotconsumelocalsolarelectricity.
(b)PURCHASE ANDSALEOF LOCAL SMALL-SCALE SOLAR ELECTRICITY.
(1)Alocalsolarelectricitysupplier,asdefinedinthissection,shallnotbesubjecttostateorlocalgovernmentregulationwithrespect
torates,service,orterritory,orbesubjecttoanyassignment,reservation,ordivision of serviceterritorybetweenoramongelectric
utilities.
(2)Noelectricutilityshallimpairanycustomer'spurchaseor consumption ofsolarelectricityfromalocalsolar electricity supplier
through any special ratej charge,tariff,classification,term or condition of service,or utility rule or regulation,thatisnotalso imposed
onothercustomers of thesametypeorclassthatdonotconsumeelectricityfromalocalsolarelectricitysupplier.
(3)Anelectricutilityshallnotberelieved of itsobligationunderlawtofurnishservicetoanycustomerwithinitsserviceterritoryon
thebasisthatsuchcustomeralsopurchaseselectricityfromalocalsolarelectricitysupplier.
(4)Notwithstanding paragraph (1),nothinginthissectionshall prohibit reasonable health,safetyandwelfare regulations,including,
butnotlimitedto,buildingcodes,electricalcodes,safetycodesandpollutioncontrolregulations,whichdonotprohibitorhavethe
effectof prohibiting the supply of solar-generated electricity byalocalsolar electricity supplieras defined inthis section.
(c)DEFINITIONS.Forthepurposes of thissection:
(1)"local solar electricity supplier"means any person who supplies electricity generated from asolar electricity generating facility
witha maximum rated capacity ofno more than2 megawatts,that converts energy from thesun into thermal or electrical energy,to
anyotherperson located onthesame property,oron separately owned but contiguous property,where thesolar energy generating
facility is located.
(2)"person"means any individual,firm,association,joint venture,partnership,estate,trust,business trust,syndicate,fiduciary,
corporation,governmententity,andanyothergroupor combination.
(3)"electric utility'1 means every person,corporation,partnership,association,governmental entity,andtheir lessees,trustees,or
receivers,otherthanalocalsolar electricity supplier,supplying electricity to ultimate consumers of electricity withinthisstate.
(4)"local government"means any county,municipality,special district,district,authority,oranyothersubdivision ofthe state.
(d)ENFORCEMENT AND EFFECTIVE DATE.This amendment shallbe effective on January 3,2017.
Date:X
(Date ofsignature)(Signature ofregisteredvoter)
Initiativepetitionsponsoredby Floridians forSolar Choice,Inc.,120 E.OaklandBlvd,Suite 105,Ft Lauderdale,FL33334
If paid petition circulator isused:
Circulator's Name
Circulators Address
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