SunEarth is pleased to announce that Wholesale Solar Supply of Fort Meyers, Florida has joined the distribution network.
Florida, the Sunshine State, has tremendous solar potential. But, so far, the state hasn't been quite living up to that potential but has made big strides lately. While Florida has the third best physical and geographic conditions in the country for solar, its policies hold it down at 18th for installed solar capacity.
Reasons to go solar in the “Sunshine State”: Florida tax rebates and solar programs
There are a few great solar programs to help Floridians take advantage of all that sun, including:
Beaches Energy Services - Solar Water Heating Rebate Program
Beaches Energy Services offers a solar water heating rebate to their residential customers. This $500 rebate applies to new systems which are properly installed and certified. New construction and solar pool heating systems do not qualify for the rebate payment. Systems must be installed by a licensed Florida contractor and must be FSEC certified. Rebates will not be issued until equipment is fully installed. Rebates may take between four to six weeks to process. There is a one rebate maximum for all participating customers. The rebate applications can be downloaded from the program web site.
City of Tallahassee Utilities - Solar Water Heating Rebate
The City of Tallahassee Utilities offers a $450 rebate to homeowners* and homebuilders who install a solar water-heating system. This rebate may be applied to a first-time installation or to the replacement of an older solar water-heating system. Homebuilders may also apply for the rebate when installing a solar water heater on a new home. Pool heating systems are not eligible for the rebate.
The homeowner must allow the City of Tallahassee to conduct an energy audit on the home in order to make a preliminary assessment of sun exposure and to provide program guidance.
Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc - Energy Smart Solar Water Heater Rebate Program
Clay Electric Cooperative (CEC) provides a rebate of $0.01 per BTU output to its residential members when they purchase qualified solar water heaters. This rebate is capped at 60,000 BTUs per system, or $600. Eligible solar water heaters can be either passive or active systems. The proposed solar system must meet Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) specifications and be installed by a contractor certified to install solar water heating systems by the Florida Department of Professional Regulation's Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Florida Keys Electric Cooperative - Residential Rebate Program
Note: Rebates are paid for by limited funds which are allotted annually. Check with utility to make sure funds are still available.
Florida Keys Electric Cooperative offers residential members rebates for installing energy efficient measures. To qualify for rebates, members must first call FKEC and make an appointment for a free home energy audit. An FKEC trained auditor will assess the home and make recommendations for energy savings. From those recommendations members can qualify for rebates for installations such as:
- Central Air Conditioners
- Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners
- Room Air Conditioners
- Solar Water Heat
- Insulation
- Window Film or Solar Screen
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority - Solar Water Heating Rebate
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority is offering a Solar Water Heating rebate program. Flat rebates of $450 are now available to residential customers toward the installation of new solar water heating units.
Systems must be certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center and installed by a licensed Florida contractor to qualify. Rebates are limited to one per household.
Rebate application can be found here.
Lakeland Electric - Solar Water Heating Program
Lakeland Electric, a municipal utility in Florida, offers solar-heated domestic hot water on a "pay-for-energy" basis. The utility bills the customer $34.95 per month regardless of use. The $34.95 monthly charge is a bulk energy purchase. The water heater is owned and maintained by the vendor. The utility provides program policy management, meter reading, billing and collection services. Residents must live in the Lakeland Electric service territory, and all candidate homes are subject to a site inspection to determine suitability.
The program serves as an incentive to residential customers to utilize solar energy by:
- making solar energy affordable to all
Ocala Utility Services - Solar Hot Water Heating Rebate Program
The Solar Water Heater Rebate Program is offered to residential retail electric customers by the City of Ocala Utility Services. Interested customers must complete an application and receive approval from the Ocala Utility Services before installing equipment. The application can be found on the program web site. The system must be installed by a licensed Florida contractor on the customer's premises, which must be located within the Utility service territory. The system must be new and take the place of an electric hot water heater. Solar pool heating systems and other solar thermal technologies are ineligible. Solar pool heating systems.
Orlando Utilities Commission - Residential Solar Water Heater Rebate Program
The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) offers residential electric customers a point-of-sale rebate of $1,000 for new solar water heating systems.
Through a partnership with the Orlando Federal Credit Union (OFCU), OUC also offers a Residential Solar Loan Program to finance the solar hot water system. Customers who choose to finance through this special program receive a point-of-sale rebate of $550 in addition to OUC’s interest rate buydown on the loan. All participants must have their systems installed by a licensed contractor and have a permit approved.
Solar pool heating systems are not eligible for the rebate.