Partial help for solar customers due rebates is on the way
The Florida Legislature appropriated 31.3 million of stimulus money, most of which will be used to pay for unmet rebate commitments for solar hot water systems, solar panels for solar electric systems (photovoltaic systems) and solar pool heaters. The state’s solar rebate program started in 2006 and ended this past June. The program did not get funded by the legislature during the spring session which stranded as many as 13,000 Floridians without the rebates they were promised by the state.
Apparently, nobody knows how many people qualified for the rebates. There were no details offered about who would get rebates, how the funds will be prioritized or how much each customer would get. Simple math indicates that very few people if any will be made whole by this appropriation.
Approximately $29 million of the $31.3 million will go to people who had qualified for the Florida Solar Rebates Program. Unfortunately, that is only about half of the money that is owed. The state owes $52 million in solar energy rebates. According to one lawmaker the Legislature will consider full funding of the program during the spring session in March. That is 10 months after the program ended.
The program offered $500 rebates for solar hot water systems, $100 rebates for solar pool heaters and $4 per watt of energy produced by solar panels up to $20,000 for residential applications and $100,000 for businesses.
The state made a commitment to these rebates and it is incumbent upon them to make good on the commitment. It is unconscionable to leave 13,000 people without the money promised to them.
Federal rebates for solar hot water (also known as domestic hot water) and solar electric (also known as photovoltaic systems) are in effect through 2016 and offer a 30% tax credit.