(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners passed an ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Katy Sorenson designed to draw solar energy equipment manufacturers to Miami-Dade County. The ordinance allows solar manufacturing businesses locating to Miami-Dade to apply for incentives through the County’s Targeted Jobs Incentive Fund Program to attract business investment, especially to economically depressed areas of the County. The new law also creates incentives for environmentally sensitive “green construction” standards for commercial and industrial buildings.“This will propel Miami-Dade into a leadership role on alternative energy and resource efficiency in Florida,” offered Commissioner Sorenson. “We have to find alternatives to our fossil fuel dependency and the geopolitical and environmental consequences that come from our thirst for oil. Solar energy is our region’s greatest untapped supply of domestic energy, and it’s time for Miami-Dade to take a leadership role in the ‘Sunshine State’.” 

Beyond the advantages of reducing our dependence on petroleum, the solar industry itself is booming.  After decades of incubation, the solar energy industry is now beginning to compete with “traditional” fossil fuels and other alternative energy sources such as wind turbines. The job creation potential for this industry is significant, with most factories in the United States announcing aggressive expansion plans.  “There is such potential both domestically and internationally,” explained Sorenson.“Our geographic location is an asset, not only because of our long, sunny days, but in our position as a major trading partner with countries where there’s a growing demand for solar products.” The recently approved ordinance changes create a specific incentive for the solar thermal and photovoltaic industries based on their capital investment and the number of new jobs they create.