For a state that claims to be the Sunshine State, we certainly don't do much to encourage the use of the sun's rays to power our lives.  I'd like for Temple Terrace to be the community that puts an end to this.

Imagine, if you will, a community where solar cells replace barren space on the roofs of schools, shopping centers, apartment complexes, and houses, as well as providing shade in parking lots.  This privately-funded infrastructure could provide a significant portion of our power, serve as charging stations for future electric vehicles, or ensure that during natural disasters there will be power for emergency shelters at schools and to keep our stores and vital businesses operating.

By providing incentives for solar photovoltaic power and solar hot water heaters on homes and businesses, Temple Terrace can be the focal point of the emerging solar power market in our region.  If we seize this opportunity to build a market for these products we will see benefits in the form of new "green collar" jobs, cleaner air, energy security for some of our residents, and positive public relations for fostering this attractive technology. 

My hope is that this will be an economic development tool that will attract new companies to our area that value this type of environmental and technological commitment, as well as a way to team with USF to highlight the feasibility and practicality of widespread use of solar power to supplement traditional power sources and provide distributed generating capacity.

I am proposing that City Council evaluate the feasibility of offering the following property tax rebates for residents and businesses who are willing to invest in solar power:

• $2.50 per installed watt for solar photovoltaic electric panels
• $250 for solar hot water heater

These tax rebates would be applied toward the owner's annual proptery tax bill and spread over up to four years for residences and up to seven years for commerical buildings in order to provide a reasonable benefit to the home or business owner and to buffer the impact on the City budget.

To encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation, I will work to provide tax breaks for businesses that take steps to address our transportation problems, such as providing employees incentives to take mass transit, participate in carpools, or ride their bikes to work.

For developers who commit to green building standards, including the use of "green roofs" and energy saving practices, I propose that the City provide expedited permitting review and lower permitting costs.  This policy will save homeowners and business owners money through lower energy consumption and result in increased property values.  Green roofs, which uses lightweight soil material and plants, reduce stormwater runoff and heat transmission to roofs, and provide an overall cooling effect that partially offsets the "heat island" effect that is caused by pavement and traditional buildings.