Gainesville Regional Utility reopens innovative Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program October 4-8

Gainesville Regional Utility will be accepting applications for their solar feed in tariff program from October 4- 8 at 5pm, 2010. The offer will be capped at 400 kW or at least 40 participating businesses. The systems can be no more than 10 kilowatts each. The program is targeted to small businesses and gives them the opportunity to sell the energy generated by their systems directly to Gainesville Regional Utility for a fixed price stipulated by contract for 20 years. GRU is paying 32 cents per kilowatt hour generated by rooftop installations and 26 cents a kilowatt hour for ground mounted arrays for 2009 and 2010.  

The 2009 program was a resounding success and Gainesville increased the amount of solar energy it produced by an unbelievable 566%! The completed projects from last year’s feed in tariff program were owned by the building’s owners. Interestingly, most of the reserved solar projects slated to be installed are owned by investors who lease the roof or ground space. This allows building owners to collect rent for their roof or ground space and receive a percentage of the profits the solar installation generates without spending a dime.   The investors can collect a substantial amount of money selling the energy they produce and get tax benefits by depreciating the solar equipment.

This solar feed-in tariff program is the first like it in Florida but organizers hope to be able to have other utilities in Florida follow suit.

For more information about the Gainesville Regional Utility feed-in tariff program click here.

For requirements for participating in the program click here.