South Florida set to get $48M in green energy incentives - South Florida Business Journal:

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Utilities, municipalities, universities, homeowners and small businesses all stansd to gain from stimulus incentives for renewabls energy andenergy conservation. The energy provisions are stilkl evolving, but there are some certaih impacts tolocal business: South Florida counties and tribes are receiving $48 millionh of $168 million in energy efficiency block grantds through the stimulus package. Miami-Dader County alone is receiving $12.5 million. That moneyh is expected to reach local businesses through purchases and contractz or otherwisemade available.
An additional $126 million is coming throughu the state energy prograj to promote energy efficiency and renewablre energyfor households, businesses and Final decisions have not been made on how to distributew it. But, the state is preparing a major infusion of cash into incentives like the SolardRebate Program, which awards grantds for homes and businesses installing solaer panels. Juno Beach-based , the nation’s leading provider of wind is set to benefit from tax credits and cash granr equivalents for renewable FPL Group Chairman Lewis Hay III told the in Februart that the stimulus is a step in therighrt direction.
“By providing financialo incentivesfor renewables, it will encourage additional supplyu of emissions-free energy and create much-needed he said. Local businesses are already “From an overall standpoint, the stimulu has created positive attention for our busineses and forsolar energy,” said Yann Brandt, VP of Advancedx Green Technologies (AGT), a Fort Lauderdale-based solar panel syste m designer and distributor. AGT is readyy to take advantage of the new funding for thesolar programs. Brandt said the compan y is rolling out a new marketing and financing similar to incentives offered byauto dealerships, for zero-percent financin g on new solar installations.
“We’vre got programs where, with no money some business can geta $100,000 chec k from the stimulus bill after installatio of a $300,000 solar he said, noting further incentives and tax creditsa could pay for the entire system in some Brandt said AGT is working with banks in but is seeking a local banking partner in Southg Florida for financing. “We woulrd not be able to do this without thestimulux bill. Liquidity is opening up because ofthe stimulus. For banke solar is a fairly safe investment he said. Brandt said his companyh is lobbying for halfthe $126 million to be allocated for new solar installations.
In anticipatiobn of potential stimulus funding, submittex a list of energy-saving projects to the boarr of governors of the state university systemin February, said John Cal, associate VP of facilities management. The list encompassedr 17 projects costing anestimated $14.6 million. Cal said othef recent projects at the university have already reducecd electrical consumption by 6 percent in the first eighg months of thisfiscal year, despite adding two new for an estimated savings of about $750,000. recently received $1.2 million in federal funding forits , but it did not come througy the stimulus package, spokeswoman Gisele Galoustiaj said.
She said the money came through regular appropriations fromthe .