LTC 320-2015 Town of Surfside Resolution 1915 •2015
MIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# 320-2015 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members of t City Com ission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: August 12, 2015
SUBJECT: TOWN OF SURFSIDE RESOLUTION
Attached for your information is Resolution No. 15-2309, adopted by the Mayor and Town
Commission of Surfside on August 11, 2015.
A Resolution Of The Town Commission Of The Town Of Surfside, Florida
Urging The Florida Legislature To Remove Barriers To Customer-Sited
Solar Power And Expressing. Support For The Floridians For Solar Choice
Ballot Petition; Providing Direction To The Town Clerk To Transmit A Copy
Of This Resolution To The Florida Legislature; The Board Of County
Commissioners Of Miami-Dade County, All Municipalities In Miami-Dade
County, The Miami-Dade County League Of Cities, And Florida League Of
Cities And Providing For An Effective Date.
The Town of Surfside has requested that a copy of this resolution be provided to the Miami
Beach Mayor and Commissioners.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 305.673.7411.
JLM/REG
Attachment
F:'+CLER\$ALL\LILIA\L±C's-Trans, a;a!'s\Resoiutlon 5-2309.dccx
RESOLUTION NO 15-
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF
THE TOWN OF SURFSIDE, FLORIDA URGING
THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO REMOVE
BARRIERS TO.CUSTOMER-SITED SOLAR POWER
AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE
FLORIDIANS FOR SOLAR CHOICE BALLOT
PETITION; PROVIDING DIRECTION TO THE
TOWN CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION TO. THE :FLORIDA LEGISLATURE;
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THE MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND 'FLORIDA
LEAGUE OF CITIES AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE..
WHEREAS, solar power generates electricity with zero air emissions and no
water use, thereby moving the county, state, and country to a cleaner and more
sustainable energy future; and
WHEREAS, Florida has the greatest potential for rooftop solar power of any
state in the eastern United States but lags in realizing that potential; with 9 million
electric utility customer accounts, Florida.has.only 6,000 customer-sited solar systems.'
Less sunny states like New Jersey have over 30,000 customer-sited solar systems but
only half the population of Florida;and
WHEREAS, Florida is one of only five states in the United States that by law
expressly denies citizens and businesses the freedom to buy solar power electricity
directly from someone other than a power company;" and
WHEREAS, allowing non-utility solar providers to provide solar generated
electricity, through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), directly to customers can
remove the upfront cost for solar power systems to homeowners and expand solar power
options io residential and commercial tenants - thereby expanding the choice for solar
power to all Floridians; and
i Florida Public Service Commission,Reporting for interconnection and Net Metering
Customer-owned Renewable Generation,at
http://www.psc.state.fl.us/utilities/electricgas/customerrenewable/2013/2013%20Net%20Metering%20S
ummary%20Spreadsheet/2013%20Net%20Metering%20Chart.pdf
ii Department of Energy,et.al,Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency,at
http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.corn/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/3rd_Party-PPA_0302015.pdf
Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, in states, such as New York or New Jersey, where non-utilities can
provide solar generated power directly to customers, there has been significant solar
development in the residential sector. Such arrangements have driven anywhere from
67% (New York) to 92%.(New Jersey)of residential installations in those states;"' and
WHEREAS, ;Florida spends about $58 billion each year buying carbon-based
fuels from other states and countries to power our homes,businesses and cars, while solar
power will keep energy dollars here at home and create good paying local jobs; and,
WHEREAS, in a recent poll, 74% of Florida voters said they support a proposal
to change the state's current: law and allow Floridians to contract directly with solar
power providers for their electricity. Removing barriers to solar choice will allow more
Floridians to take advantage of the power of the sun:'"
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION:
OF THE TOWN.OF SURFSIDE, FLORIDA, AS..FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. That the above-stated recitals are hereby adopted and
confirmed.
Section 2..Support. The Town Commission hereby urges the Florida Legislature
to remove barriers that limits the sale of solar-generated electricity directly to a customer
by anyone other than a power company and supporting the Floridians for.Solar Choice
ballot petition to amend the Florida Constitution to remove the barrier to customer-sited
solar power.
Section 3. Direction to Tovrn Clerk. The Town Clerk is hereby directed to
transmit an electronic copy of this Resolution to the Florida Legislature,Board of County
Commissioners of Miami-Dade. County, all municipalities in. Miami-Dade County, the
Miami-Dade County League of Cities, and the Florida League.of Cities.
Section 4.Implementation. The Town Manager is hereby authorized to take any
and all action necessary to implement this Resolution.
Section 5. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately
upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this I I T.da of August 2015.
. . day g
SEIA-GTM. U.S.Solar Market insight Report:Q3 2014.
'v North Star Opinion Research,Survey of Florida Registered Voters,October 2014,at:
https://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/FL_Energy_Presentation_for_Release.pdf
Page.2 of 3
Motion by COT)f Y11��iGner'
Cah-.f
3
Second by Qrr, M 1 SSt •e r 126(LC.14'n •
FINAL VOTE ON ADOPTION
Commissioner Barry Cohen
Commissioner Michael Karukin eS
Commissioner Marta Olchyk PS
Vice Mayor Eli Tourgeman
Mayor Daniel Dietch e
Daniel Dietch, Mayor
\!: 1.
ATTE';
Sandra N► .�` own Clerk
R
APPRO .ED AS TO FORM AND
L A AL SUFF CIENCY FOR THE TOWN OF SURFSIDE ONLY:
Linda Miller,Town Attorney
1
4
Page 3 of 3