Solar Initiatives

As of March of 2019, the City of Deerfield Beach currently has 62 solar panels installed on the Central City Campus facility, for a total of a 14.88 kW rooftop system.

Implementing more solar projects fits well within the City’s strategic priorities outlined by the Strategic Plan. To fulfill these priorities, the City plans to continue expanding its solar capacity and encourage others in the community to do the same.

Solar panels on a city facility

Solar panels on a city facility


Deerfield Beach Strategic Priorities

  1. Promote and protect a prosperous atmosphere for residents, businesses, and visitors
  2. Cultivate an environment that promotes and protects a high quality of life for residents and businesses
  3. Develop infrastructure, facilities and organizational capacity for a sustainable community

SolSmart

To further our solar goals, the City has partnered with an advisor to achieve  SolSmart Designation. SolSmart is a national designation program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative. SolSmart is designed to recognize communities that have taken key steps to address local barriers and “soft costs” to implementing solar energy.

SolSmart-Logo

Permitting Solar Projects

If you are considering a solar energy project, the links below will help you get through the permitting process.

Learn about energy installers working in Florida. Please note that the City does not endorse any installer.

Florida Solar Laws

Florida law forbids any entity- including homeowner associations- from prohibiting the installation of solar or other renewable energy devices on Florida buildings. An association may require approval of a system installation and may establish restrictions for installations. However, any such restrictions must be reasonable, not arbitrary, and applied in a uniform manner for all association members. Also, any restrictions must not have the effect of impairing the performance or increasing the cost of a solar system.

In particular, a homeowner association may not prevent the installation of solar collectors on the roof of a home. The association may determine where on the roof the collectors may be installed, so long as the collectors face within 45 degrees of due south. Finally, any requirement(s) that a system be screened from view by trees, fences, ground mounting racks, or a remote roof location that is hidden from the street, will generally violate the statute: Title XI 163.04

Net Metering

In Florida, net metering rules were adopted in 2008. Net metering allows utility customers who connect approved, renewable generation systems – such as solar photovoltaic system – to the electric grid to sell electricity back to the utility company up to 2MW.

When customers generate electricity from their solar array for their home or business it may reduce the amount of energy they need to purchase from the utility and may lower their monthly electricity bills. If their system produces more energy than they need, the excess power is sold back to the grid. That amount of energy is deducted from their monthly bill or credited toward a future bill in the same calendar year.

To be eligible, a home or business owner needs to apply with the utility company and have their electric meter replaced with one that measures excess power supplied to the grid.

Consumer Protections

Solar PV is new to many of our city’s residents. Please click on the links below to help you make informed solar purchasing decisions.