Floridians from both parties support consumer-friendly rooftop solar policies, even as
state legislators consider bills that would make it harder for families to choose solar
Data released today from a new Mason-Dixon poll shows Florida voters overwhelmingly support policies that provide Floridians with the freedom to choose rooftop solar. One particular policy that received broad, bipartisan support is net metering. Net metering allows residential rooftop solar customers to provide excess energy back to their utility provider in exchange for a one-to-one bill credit. More than 40 states have net metering policies and this fair billing mechanism makes rooftop solar economically feasible for homes and businesses.
State lawmakers are currently considering legislation (SB 1024 and HB 741) that would undercut Florida’s existing net metering laws. If passed, this legislation would dramatically increase the cost of solar and lead to staggering job losses across the state.
Highlights from the polling data include:
- 84% of Floridians support net metering
- 68% of Floridians think that public utilities should make it easier for Floridians to install residential solar.
The poll of 625 registered statewide Florida voters, also broke down data by party lines, showing growing support among Republicans for incentives and net metering:
- 76% of Republicans support net metering
- 94% of Democrats support net metering
- 57% of Republicans think utilities should make it easier for Floridians to go solar
- 82% of Democrats think utilities should make it easier for Floridians to go solar
- 43% of Republicans think residential solar should be incentivized
- 80% of Democrats think residential solar should be incentivized
“It’s clear that Floridians overwhelming support the freedom to choose rooftop solar for their homes and businesses,” said Justin Vandenbroeck, President of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA). “Nearly 90% of participants across the state support net metering, and nearly 70% think utilities should make it easier for homeowners to install solar. Unfortunately, the bills moving through the statehouse go directly against what the voters are asking for, making solar far less accessible.”
Nearly half of participants across party lines said they would be less likely to re-elect state legislators who vote for any bills that significantly raise their costs to install solar panels on their rooftops.
According to a recent study from Conservatives for Clean Energy, the rooftop solar industry in Florida supports more than 40,000 jobs and contributes more than $18 billion in economic opportunity, employing workers in nearly every community across the state.
“Rooftop solar empowers families across Florida to take control of their utility bills and harvest their own electricity,” said Ben Millar, CEO of Sun Harvest Energy. “The solar industry is just beginning to grow in Florida, and the future is bright. But eliminating net metering stomps out opportunity, putting solar out of reach for millions of families.”
SB 1024 and HB 741 are currently moving through their respective legislative chambers. Learn more at www.flaseia.org/takeaction.
