FREPA 2012
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Renewable Energy Tax Credits - Support the
overall concept of financial incentives for renewable energy
development and production in Florida.
Solar Tax Credits -
Enhanced tax credits for utility scale solar PV development that
exceed 2 megawatts.
Florida Clean Energy Fund aka Public
Benefits Fund - Creation of a dedicated trust fund to capture dollars
that will be utilized to under gird renewable energy development
in Florida by funding research and development, solar rebates, providing grants for renewable energy projects and shoring up the fund that assist low income
Floridians with their electric bills.
Biofuels Tax Credits - Maintain and expand tax incentives for biofuel
production in Florida.
Florida
Consumer Tax Holiday - Tax exemptions to consumers for the
purchase of energy efficient appliances.
Purchase Power Agreement rules that recognize the long term stability (and expected decreases due to technological improvements) of renewable fuel prices as a mitigator for natural gas price fluctuations
for independent developers -
Develop a level playing field to provide
stability and promote a business-friendly environment for
renewable energy production and development in Florida by availing
independent developers to more options.
Renewable Energy
funding - Support creating a state renewable energy funding to be
administered through a public benefits fund or other more stable
funding infrastructure than the annual reliance upon fluctuating
general revenue which does not stabilize the market for investor
interest.
Blue Ribbon Panel of Energy Stakeholder- Support creating a Blue Ribbon Panel of renewable energy and cleantech entrepreneurs, developers and business professionals to meet and develop a comprehensive strategy for Florida energy policy via public meetings to produce a final report for submission to the legislature for implementation via a three pronged approach beginning 2013
.
Support renewable energy guaranteed loans,
grants and incentives tied to production - Rework current
renewable grants to create a more dependable funding mechanism for
renewable energy projects in Florida.
Tax Credits for renewable production and cleantech manufacturing - Expansion of Florida Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit and
Infrastructure Investment Tax Credit Program.
INNOVATION PROMOTION
Renewable Resource Map - Support state funding
for continuous cataloging of Florida's renewable resources to
facilitate innovation and private investment.
Oppose repeal of
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard language - Support having statutory language in place as goals to require utilities to meet a
10 percent renewable energy portfolio goal by 2014, and 20 percent
by 2020 so that Florida is not caught flat fotted when federal mandates may leave florida at mercy of one size fit all legislation .. without its own structure in place to meet certain goals. And, RPS has driven investments in other states.
Net Metering - Strengthen current net metering.
Feedstock Research - Working with farmers, the
University's renewable energy consortium and landowners, encourage
more investment into feedstock research and information with
regards to feedstock viability for Florida's climate and potential
growth patterns.
Biofuel Production for State Fleet
Vehicles - Promote biofuels production for use in government
vehicles and or machinery, including school transportation.
Ethanol Study - Support legislation for an ethanol study
which provide direction to the legislature to develop long-term
plan to develope and support ethanol industry in Florida via the
many stakeholders.
Expand Renewable Fuel Standard -
Require that transportation fuels sold in Florida contain, at a
minimum, 10 percent biodiesel, by volume.
INDUSTRY PROMOTION
Equal credit for existing renewable
development post RPS
- Grandfather in existing renewable energy plants wherever
possible toward RPS and other policies designed to reduce GHG.
Avoided Cost - Prohibit use of so called avoided cost "as
currently used" for independent power contracts.
Fair
competition - Promote free market competition among statutorily
defined renewable energy technologies.
Long Term
Contracts - Promote structure long term purchase power contracts
free of avoided cost at agreed upon rates.
Utility
self-built renewable facilities - promote competition and open,market through independent self-built
renewable energy projects to encourage the low cost renewable
energy development practices of independent power producers.
Alternative Compliance Payments asa part of an RPS policy (APC) - Promote the
statutory addition of a Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP)
trigger as a feature within the compliance mechanism for a Florida
RPS with penalty dollars being guided toward investments into
renewable energy projects.
Biofuels Infrastructure -
Develop strategic long-term plan to improve upon Florida's
biofuels infrastructure for general population transportation
purposes.
ISSUES THAT FREPA SUPPORTS AND MONITORS AS NON-FREPA CORE ISSUE, BUT OF MEMBER INTEREST:
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