When Pete Wilking founded A1A Solar in Jacksonville in 2010, the rooftop solar industry was still in its infancy. Just three years later, the company was “very financially viable.”
Then Jacksonville’s city-owned utility company changed its rooftop solar policy in 2018, reducing the amount it reimburses solar customers for excess power. That change doubled the amount of time it takes for solar owners to recoup their investment. Demand soured, and Wilking was forced to lay off 25 people, about half of his full time staff.
JEA says it changed the policy to keep regular customers from having to subsidize solar customers.
Is Rooftop Solar Under Threat In Florida? If So, Jacksonville Could Offer A Glimpse Into The Future usf.edu - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from usf.edu Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
10:34 AM EST Share The City Council president filed legislation to borrow money to address what is seen as a countywide problem in underserved neighborhoods.
Jacksonville City Council President Tommy Hazouri filed legislation Feb. 3 that would borrow $100 million to remove aging septic tanks and connect underserved Duval County neighborhoods to sanitary sewer systems.
Hazouri’s announcement comes as District 10 Council member Brenda Priestly Jackson said in a Feb. 3 text message that she is working with Mayor Lenny Curry’s office to find funding to complete the underfunded septic tank phaseout program approved in 2016.
In a news release Feb. 9, Hazouri said his proposal is in addition to Curry’s effort to complete septic tank removal in the Biltmore, Beverly Hills and Christobel neighborhoods.