Title
US Department of Energy Rooftop Solar Challenge II Grant (B)
This item involves a request to the City Commission to hear a presentation on the US Department of Energy (DOE) Rooftop Solar Challenge II Grant, the second phase of Broward County's Rooftop Solar Challenge I, which expands the grant initiative to additional entities.
Explanation
The City of Gainesville has the opportunity to participate with Alachua County as part of Broward County’s Rooftop Solar Challenge II grant application. Broward County’s Rooftop Solar Challenge II “Go SOLAR Florida” is an approximately $2 million grant application, requiring a 20% in-kind match. Alachua County has expressed interest in participating with Broward County in the Rooftop Solar Challenge II grant. Broward County’s successful completion of Phase I has set the groundwork to expand application, permitting, inter-connection, and fee processes for residential and commercial installations to additional regions throughout the state. If awarded, Broward County will serve as the lead and mentor of Phase II and will provide leadership, guidance, and training to participating counties in order to develop a standardized online permitting application specific to each County and their municipalities.
Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, and Sarasota Counties have also indicated their interest in participating. This grant will encourage jurisdictions to remove unnecessary solar regulatory barriers through a streamlined process, creating innovative financing options for consumers, and expanding uniform net metering and interconnection standards where possible. The grant will be for 2.5 years, and the in-kind match will be met through staff time. Alachua County would serve as the lead agency for Alachua County and coordinate all grant related issues with Broward County and the municipalities in Alachua County as necessary. Preliminary budget estimates for Alachua County are $310,000. The County Commission approved a Lette...
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