The intention of this website is to provide a set of tools that will help the public and policy makers examine data collected from ARRA funded projects in the state of Florida in a meaningful way. The dashboards, graphs, flowcharts, and reports found on this website are designed to provide state and local governments with the opportunity to determine which of these projects offer the best return on investment and may be worth pursuing in the future. The information used on this website was and continues to be collected from various sources including the United States Department of Energy, Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, Office of Energy, and various recipients from around the state of Florida.
Florida created a broad portfolio of new energy-related programs with SEP funds that align with national and Florida-specific goals. These programs were designed to increase jobs, reduce oil dependency through increases in energy efficiency and deployment of renewable energy technologies, promote economic vitality through an increase in "green jobs," and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Energy, the Florida Solar Energy Center, and Florida utilities supported the installation of 10kW, battery back-up, photovoltaic systems on 106 strategically located schools, that double as emergency shelters. The program also conducted safety workshop and webinars for operation and maintenance facilities managers and educational workshops for teachers to help them incorporate renewable energy into their curriculum. In addition, the www.energywhiz.com web site was updated to include new system information for each of the schools/shelters. There were three primary objectives to this program: (1) creating or saving jobs through installations and savings; (2) provide power for critical needs during power outages and times of disaster; and (3) educating future generations about solar energy technologies.
This program increased the availability of E85/B20 to consumers at retail stations by providing grants to fuel station owners to install E85 or B20 tanks and pumps at their facilities. There are over 500,000 flex fuel vehicles traveling on Florida roadways with very limited access to E85 fuel. One of the major challenges for station owners in the installation of alternative fuel tanks and pumps is the large up-front cost and limited access to capital due to current credit market conditions. This program alleviated that hurdle by assisting owners with the cost of installation of these alternative fuel tanks and pumps by providing grants. This program complimented the emphasis provided to alternative fuel production facilities by the State of Florida in current law and previous appropriations.
This program leveraged Florida's state energy grant initiatives to identify "shovel-ready" projects that could be expeditiously implemented through available SEP funding. The goal was to provide grants for competitively-selected renewable energy and energy efficiency technology projects. This grant program was designed to stimulate capital investment in the state and promote and enhance the statewide utilization of renewable energy technologies. Top ranking (but unfunded) projects from FY 2008-09 grant applications from the Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technology category as well as the Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technology for Bioenergy category were selected to receive funding. These projects were reviewed for eligibility and environmental standards by the United States Department of Energy. Eligible applicants agreed to the requirements applicable under the ARRA.
The Clean Energy Grant program provided funding to promote energy efficiency measures and renewable energy deployment for eligible public, not-for-profit, and agricultural entities. The program was subdivided into two categories. Eligible applicants under Category 1 included Florida state and local governments who did not receive a direct allocation of funds from the United States Department of Energy for the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program, school districts, public universities and colleges, Florida Constitutional Officers, independent special districts, and not-for-profit companies. Existing Florida farms and farm operations were considered eligible applicants under Category 2
As a result of action taken by the Florida Energy and Climate Commission on June 30, 2010, $11,886,988.75 was reprogrammed under the State Energy Program (SEP) in order to fund additional grants to local governments. Local governments receiving reprogrammed dollars were based on the final ranking of the Competitive Grants to Local Governments under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program and each application was reviewed for SEP eligibility.
The Florida Opportunity Fund - Clean Energy Investment Program is a direct investment program created to promote the adoption of energy efficient and renewable energy (EE/RE) products and technologies in Florida. The Fund will increase the availability of capital in Florida through both loan and equity investment instruments, and is designed to help Florida businesses and promote the adoption of commercialized clean energy technology. Fund investments must comport to the State Energy Program statute which requires that funds be used primarily for: (1) facility and equipment improvement with EE/RE products; (2) acquisition or demonstration of renewable energy products; and (3) improvement of existing production, manufacturing, assembly or distribution processes to reduce consumption or increase the efficient use of energy in such processes. The Office of Energy is working with the Grantee - Florida Opportunity Fund (staffed by Enterprise Florida) - and their contracted investment manager Florida First Partners to administer the program. Please direct any inquiries in connection with the EE/RE direct investment program to the Florida Opportunity Fund website.
This program is intended to foster the development and operation of compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet fueling stations throughout Florida by providing matching grants to commercial companies, school districts, local governments, utilities, etc. up to $500,000. The program is providing 25 percent matching funds for projects installed by for-profit entities. Not-for-profit and public entities are eligible for matching funds of up to 50 percent of installation costs. One of the major challenges for fleet owners is the significant initial cost of installing a CNG fueling station for their fleets. This program will lessen that challenge by assisting facility owners with the acquisition of equipment necessary to operate and maintain CNG fueling facilities.
Florida leveraged funds available through the EECBG Program to address energy efficiency and conservation priorities at both the state and local level. Specifically, Florida allocated more than 60% of the EECBG funds to eligible counties and municipalities through a competitive grant process. The remaining EECBG funds were disbursed through a variety of programs and initiatives that align with EECBG eligible activities.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Management Services are working together to retrofit ten chiller systems, install a 145 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system, perform building and mechanical system "tune ups" and optimization, install energy management systems and equipment control automation, and install upgraded high-efficiency controls to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
The Office of Energy worked with the Department of Community Affairs and the Florida Solar Energy Center to strengthen Florida's long running Energy Code Program by identifying measures that can be used to track Code effectiveness with more affordable and sustainable methods. Additionally, this program will be used in planning future Energy Code stringency increases. Understanding the market, construction practices and the impact of available technologies to gauge their energy conservation impact is essential to devising targets and implementation tactics for increased code stringency. The analysis developed through this program will provide the base information for those determinations.
The Office of Energy worked with the Department of Community Affairs and the Florida Solar Energy Center to leverage both state and federal funds for the Building Code Mitigation and Outreach Program to develop and implement a building energy conservation training program. This initiative provided training to designers, contractors, code officials and other construction industry parties through existing programs at educational institutions throughout the state. It also instructed trainers for the State Building Officials Association's education program and for education programs of construction industry associations.
The State of Florida passed through more than 60 percent of the State's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds for energy efficiency and small scale renewable energy initiatives to cities and counties that were not eligible for direct formula grants from the United States Department of Energy. The Office of Energy distributed these funds based on a competitive basis. Two-thirds of the available grant funds were made available on a competitive basis to all eligible local governments. Requested grant funding from any single applicant does not exceed 10 percent of the available grant funds. The remaining one-third of the available grant funds were dedicated to assist small counties and cities.
With respect to documents and information available from this site, neither the State of Florida nor the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services makes any warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use or inability to use the data, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Florida or the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0004575.
