State Energy Initiatives
State Energy Grant Program
The Renewable Energy Technologies Grants Program was originally established in 2006 by the Florida Renewable Energy Technologies & Energy Efficiency Act (Senate Bill 888) to provide renewable energy matching grants for demonstration, commercialization, research and development projects relating to renewable energy technologies. The grant program was designed to stimulate capital investment in the state and promote and enhance the statewide utilization of renewable energy technologies.
The 2008 Florida Legislature expanded the program to include energy efficient technologies as well as renewable energy resources, including hydrogen, biomass, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, ocean energy, waste heat and hydroelectric power. $15 million was appropriated for the Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies Grant Program, with at least $8 million for bioenergy projects.
Grant funds were available to Florida municipalities and county governments, established for-profit companies licensed to do business in Florida, universities and colleges in Florida, utilities located and operating within Florida, not-for-profit organizations, and State of Florida agencies. Eligible proposals were evaluated based on a number of different criterion, including cost share percentage, economic development potential, energy efficiency and how the project fosters public awareness of renewable energy technologies.
