Solar Measure Officially Added to Primary Ballot

Legislators in Tallahassee voted earlier this week to officially include a clean energy amendment to the primary ballot in August. While the proposed amendment, dubbed HJR 193, isn’t one of the competing solar energy amendments that were fighting earlier this year for a spot on the 2016 ballot, it will have significant influence over whether or not businesses who install solar energy equipment can receive one or both of two different tax breaks. The rules of these tax credits are to be determined by state legislators by 2017, according to a companion measure, HB 195.

According to Tampa Bay Times, the HB 195 measure will ensure legislators enact a tax credit that will “exempt the assessed value of renewable energy devices from property taxes as well as exempt the products from the tangible personal property taxes by 2018.”

The decision to accept the measure for the primary ballot was voted upon unanimously when sponsors of the measure made clear the intent to switch it from the general election to the primaries in August. This move was also meant to help prevent voter confusion regarding the two other measures fighting for a spot on the November ballot, leading the legislators to reach a verdict more quickly.

Senator Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg and Representative Ray Rodrigues of Fort Meyers are spearheading sponsorship, but they have plenty of support from solar and clean energy groups all across the state, including the Florida Retail Federation, the Christian Coalition, Conservatives for Energy Freedom, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Together, their intention, as the language of the amendment suggests, is to help promote growth in the clean energy industry by alleviating some of the weights felt by solar energy equipment owners and, ultimately, driving down the cost of building solar communities.