Renewable energy: Feed-in tariffs could benefit Florida

Sun Sentinel.com
By Murray Cameron
March 29, 2009

On Feb. 6, the Gainesville Regional Utility made a bold policy decision, changing the way that renewable energy systems such as wind, biomass, and solar power, are financed.

Until now, homeowners and businesses wanting to finance and install renewable energy systems had to employ a complex, uncertain, and mixed bag of incentives including state funded rebates, tax credits, and, in some cases, sale of renewable energy "credits.

"The GRU's approach is simpler: they commit to purchase every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by renewable energy systems for twenty years at a fixed price level sufficient to provide system owners with roughly 5 percent to 7 percent on their roof top investments.

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