WHY SHOULD YOU CARE

ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY?

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait

until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

Thomas Edison

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

ONLY 1/10 OF 1% FROM SOLAR

FLORIDA TODAY

Enormous potential - Experts say we should be in the top THREE states.

Lagging behind - National Ranking: 12th (9th in 2016)

Solar Jobs and Ranking: 8,260 (5th in 2016)

Solar Companies in State: 451 companies total; 68 Manufacturers,

246 Installers/Developers, 137 Others

Total Solar Investment in State: $1,872.48 million ($509.90 million in 2016)

Price Declines: 64% over last 5 years

More population coming - Today: 20.3 million / 2040: 26 million

SOLAR KEEPS JOBS AND MONEY IN FLORIDA

USING OUR CLEAN & ABUNDANT

HOMEGROWN ENERGY SOURCE

US Department of Energy

Floridians Pay 40% more than the National Average

Jim Fenton, PhD, Director, Florida Solar Energy Center , UCF

on cost of electricity

“Rooftop PV solar is now 4 cents per kilowatt hour with the Co-op vs 12 cents on average for current retail for fossil fuel”

Results vary by roof, region and utility.

Houses with solar are worth more, resulting in higher commissions. And the value of solar array is not taxed.

BOTTOMLINE

Jim Fenton, Director of UCF’sFlorida Solar Energy Center

“With an estimated 14% return, rooftop solar is the best investment today a homeowner in Florida can make.”

Studies show that Solar customers Help EVERYONE HOW … ?

• Reduces wear & tear on the grid and costly upgrades

• Reduces need for ‘Peaker’ plant use, the most expensive part of our electric bill; solar performs best when its needed the most, increasing grid reliability!

• Reduces need for EXPENSIVE new power plants: (biggest cause of rate increases)

• Puts downward pressure on fuel prices and helps stabilize electricity prices

• Reduces ‘line loss’ (power lost in transmission)

• Keeps billions spent on importing fuel invested here for a stronger economy

• The benefits are even greater when one considers the societal benefits, including the enhanced reliability & resiliency of the electric system, land use benefits, air quality and associated health benefits and local economic benefits (ie. job creation).

Brookings Report: Rooftop Solar: “Net Metering is a NET Benefi t” , May 2016

Missouri Energy Ini t iat ive: Winter 2015

IMPORTANT: SOLAR HELPS EVERYONE !!

KNOWLEDGE PRICE

CONSUMERS FACE TWO BARRIERS

TO SOLAR ADOPTION

PROVEN SOLUTION:

Community SOLAR CO-OPERATIVES

Making solar EASY, UNDERSTANDABLE and

AFFORDABLE!

So what is FL SUN? and

What is a Solar Cooperative?

• Homeowners form a buyers’ cooperative, bundling the group’s buying power to secure significant discounts on rooftop solar system

• A free-market approach: members solicit competitive bids from local installers.

• FL Sun provides the solar expertise to help the group evaluate installers and bids.

What is a Solar Cooperative?

(more)

• Co-op members select an installer as a group

• Each homeowner contracts individually with the co-op’s selected installer

• There is no obligation by co-op participants to purchase a system.

PV MAGAZINE

Solar Payoff for Homeowners?

• Savings on electric bills start on day #1

• Recouping the PV System cost when selling: new installations valued at

almost new price older installs valued at

depreciated price

Source: 2015 DOE study “Selling into the Sun” of 8 states including Florida

League of Women Voters

chapters statewide

Sierra Club

Southern Alliance for Clean

Energy

Florida Green Building

Council

Physicians For Social

Responsibility

County Govt’s: BROWARD,

ORANGE, MIAMI DADE

Cities: Orlando, Rockledge

Gardens, Satellite Beach,

South Miami, Sarasota,

many more

Florida House Institute

Gulf Coast Community

Foundation and Barancik

Foundation

Unitarian Church - UU

UCF Sustainability

Barry Law School, Center

for Earth Jurisprudence

Winter Park Garden Club

Northland Distributed

Church

MANY CO-OP PARTNERS

MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIPS

SOLARPUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS

BUT: What is the Return on Investment?

From Dr. Jim Fenton FSECNote: Results vary by roof, region and utility

Meetings provide:

• Solar knowledge

• Solar Co-op benefits

• Solar financing options

• Avg 20% discounts on new

systems

• Energy savings amounting to

14% return on investment!

• Increased property values

• Supporting our local solar

industry and the jobs they

create

• Reduced GHG emissions,

resulting in enhanced air quality,

public health & energy security

RESULTS of Co-ops?

Florida’s Solar Future is in OUR HANDS…..

Source: dreamstime

LET’S REALLY MAKE FLORIDA-

THE SUNSHINE STATE!