Editorial: Amendment 4 a no-brainer in the Sunshine State

There are several amendments that will be on the ballot this year, but only one will be decided in primary voting.

The legislature decided that. The reasoning is there are two solar-related amendments this year and splitting them up would help avoid confusion.

The laws governing a legislature-led amendment are: It takes 60 percent of lawmakers in both the House and Senate to vote to put the question on the ballot, and it will take 60 percent of the voters to pass it.

In November, voters will decide Amendments 1, 2, 3 and 5. But on Aug. 30, it will be Amendment 4. Its title: "Solar Devices or Renewable Energy Source Devices; Exemptions from Certain Taxation and Assessment."

The effects of the amendment would be twofold:

¦ Passage would allow the Florida Legislature to exempt taxation on solar and renewable energy devices that might otherwise fall under the tangible property tax bracket.

¦ Passage would prohibit taxing authorities from using renewable energy devices in determining added taxable value of both residential and commercial properties.

Residential homeowners have several tax breaks already available for installing solar equipment. So this is more for businesses, and primarily small businesses (though supporters believe that the tax breaks for businesses will trickle down to the consumers who might lease the equipment from them).

It is simply a way to encourage the use of renewable energy sources.

Supporters correctly point out that Florida lags behind many states in renewable energy production - 18th. They are also quick to point out the irony of our being the "Sunshine State," certainly having untapped potential for solar power. Solar power is clean. Solar power is free once an initial investment is recouped.

Opponents counter that taxation should be dealt out evenly and consistently, rather than giving one group or another a break.

They also contend that, because the installation of the solar equipment is an expensive proposition, the benefit of the tax breaks would go to the more wealthy strata of residents and businesses.

An interesting question in the issue is why change the state constitution for what's essentially a tax break? The answer is that it is the only method available to the legislature that overrides home rule taxation by counties: forcing them to enact the same breaks as the states.

This is a good amendment for the people of Florida. We can't see a real downside to taking what nature gives us for free and lessening dependence on natural gas from other states or petroleum products from other countries - where, in both cases the profits end up.

Is Amendment 4 embraced across the board? Consider that both the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club endorse it.

Don't blink. We may never see that again.

Vote yes on Aug. 30 on Amendment 4.