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Backup Documents 06/24/2025 Item #11B Presentation   Select Year:   2024 Go The 2024 Florida Statutes Title XI COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Chapter 163 INTERGOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS View Entire Chapter 163.3205 Solar facility approval process.— (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage renewable solar electrical generation throughout this state. It is essential that solar facilities and associated electric infrastructure be constructed and maintained in various locations throughout this state in order to ensure the availability of renewable energy production, which is critical to this state’s energy and economic future. (2) As used in this section, the term “solar facility” means a production facility for electric power which: (a) Uses photovoltaic modules to convert solar energy to electricity that may be stored on site, delivered to a transmission system, and consumed primarily offsite. (b) Consists principally of photovoltaic modules, a mounting or racking system, power inverters, transformers, collection systems, battery systems, fire suppression equipment, and associated components. (c) May include accessory administration or maintenance buildings, electric transmission lines, substations, energy storage equipment, and related accessory uses and structures. (3) A solar facility shall be a permitted use in all agricultural land use categories in a local government comprehensive plan and all agricultural zoning districts within an unincorporated area and must comply with the setback and landscaped buffer area criteria for other similar uses in the agricultural district. (4) A county may adopt an ordinance specifying buffer and landscaping requirements for solar facilities. Such requirements may not exceed the requirements for similar uses involving the construction of other facilities that are permitted uses in agricultural land use categories and zoning districts. (5) This section does not apply to any site that was the subject of an application to construct a solar facility submitted to a local governmental entity before July 1, 2021. History.—s. 1, ch. 2021-178. Copyright © 1995-2024 The Florida Legislature • Privacy Statement • Contact Us 12/2/24, 12:40 PM Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0100-0199/0163/Sections/0163.3205.html 1/1   Select Year:   2024 Go The 2024 Florida Statutes Title XI COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Chapter 163 INTERGOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS View Entire Chapter 163.32051 Floating solar facilities.— (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 the 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. History.—s. 1, ch. 2022-83; s. 48, ch. 2023-8; s. 12, ch. 2024-2. Copyright © 1995-2024 The Florida Legislature • Privacy Statement • Contact Us 11/22/24, 2:19 PM Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0100-0199/0163/Sections/0163.32051.html 1/1