By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

It’s not double, but it’s close.

The new net-metering statistics are out in Florida, and the number of PV installations increased 92% from 2016 to 2017, from 4,365 to 8,434.

It’s amazing what can happen when you rationalize your solar policy.

Needless to say, the state’s installers are thrilled with the news.

“Florida’s solar growth has been explosive and it’s all due to the citizens who have been asking for solar for years,” said Michael Vergona, president of UrbanSolar. “Everyone wants another option for producing their own power and harnessing our abundant sun.”

One installer tied it directly to the passage of one piece of legislation.

“The passage of SB90 in 2017 told the world Florida was open for business, and we assumed it would finally breathe life into the solar industry in the Sunshine State,” said Justin Hoysradt, CEO of Vinyasun. “This month’s report is the verifiable evidence that those jobs are real, and they are coming, with the industry nearly doubling the solar installations occurring in 2017 versus 2016.

“Now, of the 62 investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities in Florida, all but 7, have active solar energy markets creating well-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced to China or automated by robots,” Hoysradt added. “It is clear that the Florida legislature made the right decision supporting solar for Floridians and the economy.”

All we can say is that it’s about time. For the past decade or so – ever since a Navigant Consulting report revealed the immense potential of the Florida market – everyone wondered when solar would actually become a significant part of Florida’s electricity production. Two major obstacles to solar’s development existed:

1) The overwhelming power of the utilities in the state, all of whom wanted to keep generation within their sole purview; and 2) The plethora of inexpensive electricity.

But starting in 2016, sentiment started to shift significantly, in part because of an ill-conceived (and ill-fated) attempt by the utilities to deceive Florida voters about their solar rights. And since the 2016 election, solar development in the state has moved forward with breakneck speed.

Now, as the Florida Public Service Commission has ruled third-party ownership is not the equivalent of regulated utilities, the market seems to have reacted favorably – and perhaps the pent-up potential of the Florida solar market can finally be realized. This report certainly provides some signs that point in that direction.