TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO REINSTATE THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED IN THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION FOR SOLAR ENERGY AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS INSTALLED ON REAL PROPERTY AND TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR SUCH AN EXEMPTION

BODY
WHEREAS, in 1980, Florida voters amended the Florida Constitution to include a provision that authorizes a property tax exemption for up to 10 years for solar and other renewable energy systems installed on real property pursuant to general law; and
WHEREAS, that same year, the Florida Legislature implemented the renewable energy constitutional amendment by passing Section 196.175, Florida Statutes, and authorizing the property tax exemption; and
WHEREAS, the property tax exemption is no longer available for such systems because Section 196.175 contained a sunset at the end of calendar year 1990 and provided that no exemption shall be granted for a renewable energy system that was installed after December 31, 1990; and
WHEREAS, providing a property tax exemption for improvements like solar and other renewable energy systems may encourage buyers to make such an investment in a clean energy future; and
WHEREAS, homeowners who choose to install solar and other renewable energy systems on their real property may have the unforeseen dilemma of a property tax liability that diminishes the savings generated by these systems; and
WHEREAS, reinstating the property tax exemption would be another useful tool that would complement the other incentives the State of Florida has recently begun offering to encourage homeowners to install solar and other renewable energy systems; and
WHEREAS, reinstating the property tax exemption on solar and other renewable energy systems would reward forward-thinking homeowners who are contributing environmentally-sound energy resources to our state�s power supply,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to reinstate the property tax exemption currently authorized in the Florida Constitution for solar energy and other renewable energy systems installed on real property and to streamline the process for applying for such an exemption.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2007 State Legislative Package.