I just got back from an exciting week in Florida where a number of national and state organizations gathered to present Governor Crist with the Golden Meter award for the excellent net metering rules adopted last year.
On Tuesday March 31st, I was part of a group to present Governor Charlie Crist with the third annual “Golden Meter” award for Florida’s net metering rules that were adopted last year. The awarding organizations included Network for New Energy Choices, Solar Alliance, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Vote Solar and the state solar trade association, FlaSEIA.
The rules were the result of the Governor’s Executive Order 127 which called for opening markets for renewable energy. To learn more about Florida’s best-of-class net metering rules, click here (PDF).
The award ceremony coincided with the first hearing of a Senate bill to establish a renewable portfolio standard. As it stands, it essentially creates a 20% standard for “clean energy” by 2020, three-quarters of which must come from renewable energy sources and 1/4 may come from new nuclear. The bill would provide up to $400 million/year for renewable energy projects, with half of that going to solar. This is just the beginning, and things are moving very fast, so stay tuned…
Onwards,
Gwen
R to L: Barry Moline (Florida Municipal Electric Association), Chris Maingot (Superior Solar/FlaSEIA), Bruce Kershner (FlaSEIA), James Rose (NNEC), Gwen Rose (Vote Solar), Governor Crist, Martha Duggan (SunEdison/Solar Alliance), Yann Brandt (AGT), Rich Paul-Hus (Hypower Inc), Nick Larossi (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy), and Brecht Huechan (Solar Alliance)