Resolution 132-2016Exhibit 1
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RESOLUTION NO. 132 -2016
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
ENDORSING AMENDMENT 4; PROVIDING FOR
TRANSMISSION OF THE RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING
FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, solar photovoltaic energy offers many potential benefits, including
lower electricity costs for homeowners, businesses, and governments; local jobs and
economic development; reduced dependence on imported fuels; pollution -free electricity
generation; no water use; and contribution to a more resilient electric grid; and
WHEREAS, Florida spends billions of dollars each year purchasing carbon-
based fuels from other states and countries to power its homes, businesses, and
vehicles, while solar power will keep energy dollars in the state and create good - paying
local sales, installation, and maintenance jobs; and
WHEREAS, Florida has the third - highest potential for rooftop solar energy
generation in the United States, but currently ranks 14th in the nation for installed solar
capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County has met and exceeded the emissions reduction goal
of 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 (expressed most recently in the Climate Change
Element incorporated into the County Comprehensive Plan in 2016); and
WHEREAS, increased solar - generated electricity, including customer -sited
systems on residential and commercial properties, will be a key strategy for achieving
this community -wide goal; and
WHEREAS, for many years Monroe County has offered support for pro -solar
i energy policies and legislation at the state and federal levels, including explicit support
Exhibit 1
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in the County's annual state and federal legislative programs and in the annual state
and federal legislative programs approved jointly by the County Commissions of the four
Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact Counties; and
WHEREAS, the Compact Counties 2016 State Energy and Climate Legislative
Program
specifically supports "legislation
and /or constitutional
amendments
that
will
exempt
solar photovoltaic systems from
commercial property
assessments
and
the
tangible personal property tax "; and
WHEREAS, Florida is one of only four states in the United States that by law
expressly denies residents and businesses the ability to buy solar - generated electricity
directly from someone other than a power company through Power Purchase
Agreements (PPAs); and
WHEREAS, solar leasing agreements, in which companies lease solar electricity
systems to homeowners and businesses, realize many of the same benefits of PPAs,
but are rendered economically unfeasible in Florida as result of the state's tangible
personal property tax on leased equipment; and
WHEREAS, in 2008 Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that
authorized the Florida Legislature to exclude wind resistance and renewable energy
improvements from residential property appraisals; and
WHEREAS, the effective exemption of solar energy systems from residential
property taxes, enabled by the 2008 amendment and the implementing legislation
passed by the Legislature in 2013, encourages homeowners to invest in rooftop solar
and other renewable energy systems; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 4, entitled "Solar Devices or Renewable Energy Source
Devices; Exemption from Certain Taxation and Assessment," will be presented to voters
Exhibit 1
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at the August 30, 2016, election as result of the unanimous passage of House Joint
Resolution 193 by both the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate on
March 9, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Amendment 4 would authorize the Florida Legislature to exempt
solar and other renewable energy systems from both residential and commercial
property appraisals and from the tangible personal property tax, effective January 1,
2018, and for the subsequent 20 years; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The Board supports, approves, and endorses Amendment 4 and
urges all Monroe County and Florida voters to vote in favor of the amendment on the
August 30, 2016, ballot.
Section 2. The Board directs the County Administrator to publicize the Board's
position on Amendment 4 to the general public and to report to the Board on the public
information efforts undertaken.
Section 3. A copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to Florida for Solar
Inc., the 501(c)(4) organization promoting Amendment 4.
Section 4. SEVERABILITY
If any portion of this Resolution is determined by any Court to be invalid, the
invalid portion shall be stricken, and such striking shall not affect the validity of the
remainder of this Resolution. If any Court determines that this Resolution, or any
portion hereof, cannot be legally applied to any individual(s), group(s), entity(ies),
Exhibit 1
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property(ies), or circumstance(s), such determination shall not affect the applicability
hereof to any other individual, group, entity, property, or circumstance.
Section 5. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED, by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of said Board on this
day of ���
, 2016
Mayor Heather Carruthers
Yes
Mayor Pro Tern George Neugent
Yes
Commissioner Danny L. Kolhage
Yes
c
Commissioner David Rice
Yes Qc,
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
Yes
M
s
N
M
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
ZJAVILIN, CLERK By•
Mayor;eatl er arruthers
7 -/9 -/�o
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Approved as to form and legal sufficiency:
Pedro Mercado, County Attorney
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