Hearing set for Energy Economic Zone

Sarasota’s “energy economic zone” moved one step closer to reality Wednesday morning. County commissioners scheduled a final public hearing on the plan in February, in order to meet a March 1 state deadline.

What was once thought of as a mini-Silicon Valley for green businesses has morphed into a proposal to spread the idea countywide. Meanwhile, state benefits for the idea are dwindling.

A total of $300,000 per year is available in state corporate and sales tax credits. “That doesn’t go very far,” Commissioner Nora Patterson said. “If you give the $300,000 to two businesses a year, it’s effective. If you give it to 100 tiny businesses all over the county, who knows?”

To put the figure in perspective, immediately before taking up the Energy Economic Zone issue, the commission authorized a $400,000 economic incentive grant to one existing business (code-named “Project Man”) that was threatening to leave the county.

The Florida Legislature created the Energy Economic Zone Pilot Program in the 2009 session. Two communities were picked to try it out – Sarasota County and the City of Miami Beach.

Miami Beach would be the model for an “Urban Service Area City Redevelopment Program.” Sarasota County would be the “Urban Service Area Greenfield” model.

Sarasota picked about 1,000 acres of mostly pasture land (“greenfield”) in mid-county adjacent to Oscar Sherer State Park, along State Road 681 and U.S. 41 in Osprey.The City of Miami Beach designated everywhere within city limits to be its zone.

But Wednesday, county commissioners were on the verge of following Miami Beach’s example of designating anywhere in the Urban Service Area as part of its zone.

They backed off only because of a technicality in advertising a proposed ordinance. They can change wording to make the ordinance more general, but cannot do the opposite.

“We need to open it up,” said Commissioner Joe Barbetta. Commission Chairwoman Christine Robinson agreed: “We’re not going to be able to concentrate this.”

One of the objectives of Sarasota’s pilot project was to examine the impact of “green transportation,” instead of automobiles within the zone. But if the zone is expanded widely, that objective will be more difficult to achieve.

In order to write the ordinance, staff asked the commission to define the zone boundaries, set energy efficiency standards and identify eligible industries.

Staff suggested requiring any new construction to be five percent more efficient that what is required in the Florida Building Code. Commissioners said they wanted an economic analysis of the zone ordinance before making any final decision.

Who would be eligible for the money? Like other economic development efforts, there will be a ranking system. How many jobs will be created? How much would they pay? Will the building meet standards for energy efficiency?

Because this is a pilot project, staff wants to keep the ordinance simple and streamlined. Many of the details will evolve over time using commission resolutions to set specific thresholds, requirements and timing.

If the ordinance is adopted by the March 1 deadline, staff estimates the resolution would follow in March.

“I think this will run out of money pretty quickly,” said Patterson.