The information
below is provided as a resource to state policymakers who
would like to foster environmental policy changes through
state tax codes and other financial incentives. It should
be noted that the State Environmental Resource Center (SERC)
does not endorse every component of the listed incentives.
In fact, SERC generally opposes legislation that provides
incentives for municipal solid waste programs, large-flow
hydro power, wood harvesting and combustion, and other programs,
which are often lumped under the heading of renewable energy.
For information about existing renewable energy incentives,
see the Bill
Text section of this package.
Introduced Legislation
Hawaii
SB
3003, introduced 1/26/04, allows a property tax exemption
for alternative energy improvements placed in service after
July 1, 2004, but before June 30, 2014; adds seawater air
conditioning with, or without, thermal energy storage as
an eligible energy source; and, adds thermal energy use
as an applicable energy process.
Status: Referred to Energy and Environment Committee/Economic
Development Committee; Transportation, Military Affairs,
and Government Operations Committee, 2/2/04.
HB
2577, introduced 1/27/04, allows a property tax exemption
for alternative energy improvements placed in service after
July 1, 2004, but before June 30, 2014; adds seawater air
conditioning with, or without, thermal energy storage as
an eligible energy source; and, adds thermal energy use
as an applicable energy process.
Status: The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee
recommends that the measure be HELD, 2/3/04.
Idaho
HB
760, introduced 2/25/04, provides an investment tax
credit against state income taxes for investments in wind
turbines, solar energy, low-impact hydro, industrial waste,
animal waste, municipal waste, geothermal resources, or
other renewable resources; and, provides that the credit
escalates if a qualifying facility is located in certain
economically depressed counties.
Status: Governor vetoed, 4/2/04.
HB
761, introduced 2/25/04, adds to existing law to provide
for an income tax credit for alternative energy generation
of electricity for six taxable years of one-half cent per
kilowatt-hour.
Status: Governor vetoed, 4/2/04.
Massachusetts
HB 1228, introduced 1/1/03, provides for tax credits for
the installation of energy efficiency measures in multi-family
residential property, including energy-efficient heating,
cooling, and air conditioning units, energy-efficient hot
water heaters, energy-efficient heat pumps, fuel cells,
energy-efficient appliances, and energy-efficient lighting
(and other measures designed to save electricity).
Status: From Joint Committee on Taxation, accompanied study
order H 4651, 4/12/04.
Minnesota
SF
1558, introduced 5/19/03, provides income and franchise
tax credits for alternative energy production.
Status: Referred to Taxes, 5/19/03.
New York
A 6034, introduced 3/4/03, requires electric corporations
to interconnect to residential and commercial wind generating
systems and provide net energy metering. It also provides
for an income tax credit for wind electric generating equipment.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Energy, 3/4/03.
Pennsylvania
HB
121, introduced 2/7/03, authorizes investment tax credits
for qualified alternative energy enterprises; establishes
the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Fund; makes a transfer of
funds; and, provides tax credits for alternative energy,
alternative fuel, and alternative fuel vehicle enterprises.
The bill exempts electricity generated by a qualified business
and sold at retail or wholesale or consumed by the qualified
business from sales and use tax.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Resources and
Energy, 6/23/04.
Rhode Island
H
5425, introduced 2/5/03, directs the Department of Environmental
Management to develop plans for fossil fuel and greenhouse
gas reduction and exempts certain alternative energy equipment
from taxation.
Status: Introduced and referred to House Finance, 2/5/03.
H
7178 / S 2088, introduced 1/14/04, provides a tax credit/refund
to purchasers of certain types of renewable energy systems,
including solar, wind, and photovoltaic energy systems.
This act proscribes the type of systems, which would qualify
a person for the tax credit, and the licensing required
to be an installer of such systems.
Status: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration; continued,
5/5/04.
Washington
HB
2477 creates an energy portfolio standard and provides
tax exemptions on the sale of machinery and equipment used
directly in generating electricity using fuel cells, wind,
sun, or landlfill gas as the principal source of power.
Status: First reading, referred to Technology, Telecommunications,
and Energy, 1/14/04.
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