Feed-in tariffs have been responsible for the success of renewable energy generation and the industries supporting it in Germany, Spain, and Denmark, but they have yet to take hold in the U.S., largely because of the fragmented nature of the electricity generation and transmission infrastructure.

However that is all about to change beginning on March 1. That’s the day residents of Gainesville, Florida with newly-installed solar photovoltaic systems will be paid $0.32 per kilowatt hour of electricity produced by their system when it’s added to the regional grid.

The key point here is that the feed-in tariff will guarantee payment for any power produced over the next 20 years. But the new tariff does set a ceiling of of 4 MW maximum on solar panel installation per year. But considering the whole of Florida only has two megawatts currently installed, 4 megawatts in the Gainesville area alone, is a considerable change.

Advocates of feed-in tariffs can see the immediate potential the policy can have on growing renewable energy generation, as well as the impact it can have on the burgeoning solar, wind, and other clean energy industries.

“This will grow the industry,” said Wayne Irwin, president of Gainesville–based Pure Energy Solar. Irwin said his company has already seen growth in anticipation of the new solar feed–in tariff.

States like Illinois and Michigan have debated the merits of a feed-in and a national feed-in tariff was proposed by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), but none have been passed by their respective legislatures.

Ed Regan, assistant general manager of strategic planning for Gainesville Regional Utilities, told the Gainesville Sun that people are “lining up” to be the first recipients of the 20-year contract.