(1)(a) The Legislature finds that floating solar facilities, also known as “floatovoltaics,” can be effective tools in harnessing energy in bodies of water that have been permitted for storage.
(b) The Legislature finds that siting floating solar facilities on wastewater treatment ponds, abandoned limerock mine areas, stormwater treatment ponds, reclaimed water ponds, and other water storage reservoirs are beneficial uses of those areas for many reasons, including the fact that the water has a cooling effect on the solar panels, which can boost power production, and 1the fact that the panels help decrease the amount of water lost to evaporation and the formation of harmful algal blooms.
(c) Therefore, the Legislature finds that the siting of floating solar facilities should be encouraged by local governments as appropriate uses of water and land areas.
(2) For purposes of this section, the term “floating solar facility” means a solar facility as defined in s. 163.3205(2), which is located on wastewater treatment ponds, abandoned limerock mine areas, stormwater treatment ponds, reclaimed water ponds, or other water storage reservoirs.
(3) A floating solar facility shall be a permitted use in the appropriate land use categories in each local government comprehensive plan, and each local government must amend its land development regulations to promote the expanded use of floating solar facilities.
(4) A county or municipality may adopt an ordinance specifying buffer and landscaping requirements for floating solar facilities. The requirements may not exceed the requirements for similar uses involving the construction of other solar facilities that are permitted uses in agricultural land use categories and zoning districts.
(5) Notwithstanding subsections (3) and (4), a floating solar facility may not be constructed in an Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir project if the local governments involved with the project determine that the floating solar facility will have a negative impact on that project.
(6) The Office of Energy within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall develop and submit recommendations to the Legislature by December 31, 2022, to provide a regulatory framework to private and public sector entities that implement floating solar facilities.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2022-83.
1Note.—The words “the fact that” were inserted by the editors to improve clarity.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XI - County Organization and Intergovernmental Relations
Chapter 163 - Intergovernmental Programs
163.2511 - Urban infill and redevelopment.
163.2514 - Growth Policy Act; definitions.
163.2517 - Designation of urban infill and redevelopment area.
163.2520 - Economic incentives.
163.3161 - Short title; intent and purpose.
163.3162 - Agricultural Lands and Practices.
163.3164 - Community Planning Act; definitions.
163.3168 - Planning innovations and technical assistance.
163.3171 - Areas of authority under this act.
163.3174 - Local planning agency.
163.3177 - Required and optional elements of comprehensive plan; studies and surveys.
163.31771 - Accessory dwelling units.
163.31777 - Public schools interlocal agreement.
163.3178 - Coastal management.
163.31801 - Impact fees; short title; intent; minimum requirements; audits; challenges.
163.31802 - Prohibited standards for security devices.
163.3182 - Transportation deficiencies.
163.3184 - Process for adoption of comprehensive plan or plan amendment.
163.3187 - Process for adoption of small scale comprehensive plan amendment.
163.3191 - Evaluation and appraisal of comprehensive plan.
163.3194 - Legal status of comprehensive plan.
163.3197 - Legal status of prior comprehensive plan.
163.3201 - Relationship of comprehensive plan to exercise of land development regulatory authority.
163.3202 - Land development regulations.
163.3204 - Cooperation by state and regional agencies.
163.3205 - Solar facility approval process.
163.32051 - Floating solar facilities.
163.3208 - Substation approval process.
163.3209 - Electric transmission and distribution line right-of-way maintenance.
163.3211 - Conflict with other statutes.
163.3213 - Administrative review of land development regulations.
163.3215 - Standing to enforce local comprehensive plans through development orders.
163.3217 - Municipal overlay for municipal incorporation.
163.3220 - Short title; legislative intent.
163.3221 - Florida Local Government Development Agreement Act; definitions.
163.3227 - Requirements of a development agreement.
163.3229 - Duration of a development agreement and relationship to local comprehensive plan.
163.3231 - Consistency with the comprehensive plan and land development regulations.
163.3233 - Local laws and policies governing a development agreement.
163.3235 - Periodic review of a development agreement.
163.3237 - Amendment or cancellation of a development agreement.
163.3239 - Recording and effectiveness of a development agreement.
163.3246 - Local government comprehensive planning certification program.
163.3248 - Rural land stewardship areas.
163.3252 - Local manufacturing development program; master development approval for manufacturers.
163.3253 - Coordinated manufacturing development approval process.