'Net metering' rule ups solar incentives
The "net metering" rule expands a requirement for investor-owned utilities to buy back electricity from people who produce it from renewable resources.
"These are some of the most important policies Florida can enact if we are going to grow renewable energy industries in Florida," said Holly Binns, field director for the group Environment Florida.
The rule does not apply to electric cooperatives or utilities owned by cities and counties. But some of those utilities, including Tallahassee's city-owned utility, already pay their customers for producing renewable energy.
The Legislature in 2005 and 2006 adopted laws encouraging the use of renewable energy in Florida. Environmentalists at a January 2007 workshop told the PSC that limits on net metering were major barriers to producing cleaner energy.
The PSC rule expands the size of eligible systems from 10 kilowatts, which is about the size of solar panels that would go on a home, to 2 megawatts, which is the size of solar panels that could go on an office building or big box store, said Kirsten Olsen, a PSC spokeswoman. The rule change also expands the type of systems covered from solely photovoltaic to all renewable technologies.
Some farmers are considering taking advantage of the rule by producing electricity by burning methane gas produced from cattle waste, said Andrew Walmsley, environmental services coordinator for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. But there also are challenges, he said, because the technology is expensive and more research is needed.
Related News

Manitoba Government Extends Pause on New Cryptocurrency Connections
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government has temporarily suspended approving new electricity service connections for cryptocurrency mining operations. The decision comes as the province grapples with the cryptocurrency industry's growing energy demands and potential impact on electricity rates for residents and businesses.
The Original Pause
The pause was initially imposed in November 2022 due to concerns that the rapid influx of cryptocurrency mining operations could place significant strain on the province's electrical grid. Manitoba Hydro, the province's primary electric utility, warned that unregulated expansion of the industry could necessitate billions of dollars in infrastructure investments, potentially driving up electricity…