Solar power has been met with controversy in states such as Arizona and Oklahoma. In contrast, lawmakers and voters in Florida seem to have warmed 
to the idea.


In August, the state’s voters approved Amendment 4, which expands a property-tax exemption that applies to solar photovoltaic (PV) and other forms of distributed generation. Existing law exempts residential customers from paying the state’s tangible personal property tax and ad valorem real estate tax on renewable-energy systems. The exemption applies to solar PV, wind turbines, solar water heaters and geothermal heat pumps. Amendment 4 expands to cover similar projects on commercial and industrial properties.


More than 70 percent of the vote supported it. Its appeal was foreshadowed by the bipartisan support in the legislature, which put it on the ballot. Amendment 4 was co-sponsored in the Florida Legislature by State Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), State Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Fort Myers) and State Rep. Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach).


The legislature passed the amendment unanimously in March. The measure also drew broad support from business groups, clean-energy advocates and environmental organizations.


While Amendment 4 will provide a much-needed tax incentive for expansion of the state’s solar industry, the ground rules for solar are still being defined.


In November, voter support for solar will be tested again, in the form of Amendment 1, another ballot initiative sponsored by the state’s utilities. Language in the measure reaffirms the right of property owners to own or lease solar equipment and protects consumers who do not have these installations from having “to subsidize the costs of backup power and electric grid access to those who do.”