Bill Text: HI HB307 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Renewable Energy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-06-22 - Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 535). [HB307 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB307-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
307 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that as a result of pursuing its goal to reach one hundred per cent renewable energy by 2045, Hawaii now leads other states in nearly every category of renewable electricity. Currently, approximately twenty-six per cent of electricity in the State is generated from renewable energy, and there are sixty utility-scale renewable energy projects feeding into the State's power grids. Despite great progress, the State continues to depend heavily upon imported petroleum for its energy needs, and it still falls far short of its ambitious renewable energy goals.
The legislature further finds that the State must continue to support established renewable energy sources and those emerging from new technological innovations to meet its expansive renewable energy goals. Currently, the State's definition of "renewable energy" is too narrow to account for some technological innovations that produce renewable energy resources. Broadening the definition of "renewable energy" to include other self-replenishing non-fossil fuel resources could significantly advance the State's clean energy goals and produce considerable environmental and economic benefits for the State.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Amend the definition of "renewable energy" as used in the public utilities commission law to include additional self-replenishing non-fossil fuel, non-nuclear resources; and
(2) Amend the renewable energy technologies income tax credit.
PART II
SECTION 2. Section 269-91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "renewable energy" to read as follows:
""Renewable energy" means
energy generated or produced using [the following sources]:
(1) Wind;
(2) The
sun;
(3) Falling
water;
(4) Biogas,
including landfill and sewage-based digester gas;
(5) Geothermal;
(6) Ocean
water, currents, and waves, including ocean thermal energy conversion;
(7) Biomass,
including biomass crops, agricultural and animal residues and wastes, and
municipal solid waste and other solid waste;
(8) Biofuels;
[and]
(9) Hydrogen produced
from renewable energy sources[.]; and
(10) Other self-replenishing non-fossil fuel, non-nuclear resources, as approved by rule or order of the public utilities commission."
PART III
SECTION 3. Section 23-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c) This section shall apply to the following:
(1) Sections 235-12.5
and 241-4.6--Credit for renewable energy [technology] technologies
and commercial seawater air conditioning system installed and placed in
service in the State. For the purpose of
section 23-91(b)(5), this credit shall be deemed to have been enacted for an
economic benefit; and
(2) Section 235-17--Credit for qualified production costs incurred for a qualified motion picture, digital media, or film production."
SECTION 4. Section 235-12.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§235-12.5 Renewable energy technologies[;] and
commercial seawater air conditioning system; income tax credit. (a) When the requirements
of subsection (d) are met, each individual or corporate taxpayer that files an individual
or corporate net income tax return for a taxable year may claim a tax credit under
this section against the Hawaii state individual or corporate net income tax. [The tax credit may be claimed for every
eligible renewable energy technology system that is installed and placed in
service in the State by a taxpayer during the taxable year.] The tax credit may be claimed as follows:
(1) For each solar energy
system[:] that is
used exclusively to heat water and is installed and first placed in service in
the State by a taxpayer during the taxable year: thirty-five per cent of the [actual cost
or the cap amount determined in subsection (b), whichever is less; or] basis up to the applicable cap
amount, which is determined as follows:
(A) $2,000
per solar energy system for a single-family residential property;
(B) $700
per unit per solar energy system for a multi-family residential property; and
(C) $225,000 per solar energy system for a commercial
property;
(2) For each
grid-connected solar energy system that is used primarily to generate
electricity and is installed and first placed in service in the State by a
taxpayer during the taxable year:
(A) Thirty-five
per cent of the basis for grid-connected solar energy systems first placed in
service after December 31, 2019, and before January 1, 2024, up to the
applicable cap amount, which is determined as follows:
(i) $5,000
per grid-connected solar energy system for a single-family residential
property; provided that if all or a portion of the grid-connected solar energy
system is used to fulfill the substitute renewable energy technology
requirement pursuant to section 196-6.5(a)(3), the credit shall be reduced by
twenty-five per cent of the basis or $2,250, whichever is less;
(ii) $700
per unit per grid-connected solar energy system for multi-family residential
property; and
(iii) $500,000
per grid-connected solar energy system for commercial property;
(B) Twenty
per cent of the basis for grid-connected solar energy systems first placed in
service after December 31, 2023, and before January 1, 2029, up to the
applicable cap amount, which is determined as follows:
(i) $2,500
per grid-connected solar energy system for a single-family residential
property; provided that if all or a portion of the grid-connected solar energy
system is used to fulfill the substitute renewable energy technology
requirement pursuant to section 196-6.5(a)(3), the credit shall be reduced by
twenty-five per cent of the basis or $1,875, whichever is less;
(ii) $700
per unit per grid-connected solar energy system for multi-family residential
property; and
(iii) $250,000
per grid-connected solar energy system for commercial property.
[(2)] (3) For each [wind-powered] grid-connected wind energy
system[:] first placed in service after December 31,
2019, and before January 1, 2029, in the State by a taxpayer during the taxable
year: twenty per cent of the [actual
cost or the cap amount determined in subsection (b), whichever is less;] basis, up to the applicable cap
amount, which is determined as follows:
(A) $1,500
per grid-connected wind energy system for a single-family residential property;
provided that if all or a portion of the grid-connected wind energy system is
used to fulfill the substitute renewable energy technology requirement pursuant
to section 196-6.5(a)(3), the credit shall be reduced by twenty per cent of the
basis or $1,500, whichever is less;
(B) $700
per unit per grid-connected wind energy system for a multi-family residential
property; and
(C) $500,000
per grid-connected wind energy system for a commercial property; and
(4) For each
commercial seawater air conditioning system, twenty percent of the basis of
connecting the commercial seawater air conditioning system to the seawater air
conditioning district cooling system up to the applicable cap amount of
$100,000.
[provided that multiple] Multiple owners of a single
system shall be entitled to a single tax credit; [and] provided [further]
that the tax credit shall be apportioned between the owners in proportion to their
contribution to the cost of the system.
In the case of a partnership, S corporation,
estate, or trust, the tax credit allowable is for every eligible renewable
energy technology and commercial seawater air conditioning system, as
defined in this section, that is installed and placed in service in the State
by the entity. The cost upon which the tax
credit is computed shall be determined at the entity level. Distribution and share of credit shall be determined
pursuant to section [235-110.7(a).] 704(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code, as amended.
(b) [The
amount of credit allowed for each eligible renewable energy technology system
shall not exceed the applicable cap amount, which is determined as follows:
(1) If the primary
purpose of the solar energy system is to use energy from the sun to heat water
for household use, then the cap amounts shall be:
(A) $2,250
per system for single-family residential property;
(B) $350
per unit per system for multi-family residential property; and
(C) $250,000
per system for commercial property;
(2) For all other
solar energy systems, the cap amounts shall be:
(A) $5,000
per system for single-family residential property; provided that if all or a portion of
the system is used to fulfill the substitute renewable energy technology
requirement pursuant to section 196-6.5(a)(3), the credit shall be reduced by
thirty-five per cent of the actual system cost or $2,250, whichever is less;
(B) $350
per unit per system for multi-family residential property; and
(C) $500,000
per system for commercial property; and
(3) For all
wind-powered energy systems, the cap amounts shall be:
(A) $1,500
per system for single-family residential property; provided that if all or a portion of
the system is used to fulfill the substitute renewable energy technology
requirement pursuant to section 196-6.5(a)(3), the credit shall be reduced by
twenty per cent of the actual system cost or $1,500, whichever is less;
(B) $200
per unit per system for multi-family residential property; and
(C) $500,000
per system for commercial property.]
(c) For
the purposes of this section:
["Actual cost" means costs
related to the renewable energy technology systems under subsection (a),
including accessories and installation, but not including the cost of consumer
incentive premiums unrelated to the operation of the system or offered with the
sale of the system and costs for which another credit is claimed under this
chapter.
"Household use" means any use
to which heated water is commonly put in a residential setting, including
commercial application of those uses.]
"Basis" means costs related to
the solar energy, wind energy, or commercial seawater air conditioning system
under subsection (a), including accessories, installation, energy storage, and
cost of construction to connect to a seawater air conditioning district cooling
system, but does not include the cost of consumer incentive premiums unrelated
to the operation of the energy system or offered with the sale of the energy
system and costs for which another credit is claimed under this chapter. Any cost incurred
and paid for the
repair, construction, or reconstruction of a structure in conjunction with the installation and placing in service of a solar energy, wind energy, or
commercial seawater air conditioning system,
such as the reroofing of single-family residential property, multi-family
residential property, or commercial property,
shall not constitute a part of the
basis for the purpose of this section; provided that costs incurred for
the physical support of the solar or wind energy system, such as racking and
mounting equipment and costs incurred to seal or otherwise return a roof to its
pre-installation condition, shall constitute part of the basis for the purposes
of this section.
The term "basis" used under
this section shall be consistent with the use of the term "basis" in
section 25D or section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
"Commercial seawater air
conditioning system" means a building air conditioning system for
commercial, office, or residential buildings connected to a seawater air
conditioning district cooling system.
"First placed in service" has
the same meaning as in title 26 Code of Federal Regulations section
1.167(a)-11(e)(1), as amended.
"Grid-connected" means that
the individual or corporate taxpayer has obtained an approved interconnection
agreement from an electric utility for the solar or wind energy system and the
system is connected and normally operated in parallel with the electric grid.
"Renewable energy technology
system" means a new system that captures and converts a renewable source
of energy, such as solar or wind energy, into:
(1) A
usable source of thermal or mechanical energy;
(2) Electricity;
or
(3) Fuel.
"Seawater air conditioning
district cooling system" means an identifiable facility, equipment,
apparatus, or the like that utilizes naturally occurring cold, deep seawater as
its primary source of cooling for production of chilled water for distribution
to multiple commercial air conditioning systems.
"Solar or wind energy system" means
any identifiable facility, equipment, apparatus, or the like that converts solar
or wind energy to useful thermal or electrical energy for heating, cooling, or reducing
the use of other types of energy that are dependent upon fossil fuel for their generation[.];
provided that:
(1) The
total output capacity requirements of the solar or wind energy system shall be:
(A) For
a single-family residential property, at least five kilowatts per system;
(B) For
a multi-family residential property, at least 0.360 kilowatts per unit per
system;
(C) For
a commercial property, at least one thousand kilowatts per system; and
(D) For
a wind energy system for commercial property, at least one thousand kilowatts
per system; and
(2) One of the
following applies:
(A) The
construction, reconstruction, or erection of the solar or wind energy system is
completed by the taxpayer; or
(B) The solar or wind energy system is acquired by the
taxpayer if the original use of the solar or wind energy system commences with
the taxpayer.
(d) For
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005, the dollar amount of any utility
rebate shall be deducted from the [cost] basis of the qualifying system
and its installation before applying the state tax credit.
(e) The
director of taxation shall prepare any forms that may be necessary to claim a tax
credit under this section, including forms identifying the technology type of each
tax credit claimed under this section[, whether for solar or wind.]. The director may also require the taxpayer to
furnish reasonable information to ascertain the validity of the claim for credit
made under this section and may adopt rules necessary to effectuate the purposes
of this section pursuant to chapter 91.
(f) If
the tax credit under this section exceeds the taxpayer's income tax liability, the
excess of the credit over liability may be used as a credit against the taxpayer's
income tax liability in subsequent years until exhausted, unless otherwise elected
by the taxpayer pursuant to subsection (g) or (h). All claims for the tax credit under this section,
including amended claims, shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month
following the close of the taxable year for which the credit may be claimed. Failure to comply with this subsection shall constitute
a waiver of the right to claim the credit.
(g) For solar energy systems, a taxpayer may elect to reduce the eligible credit amount by thirty per cent and if this reduced amount exceeds the amount of income tax payment due from the taxpayer, the excess of the credit amount over payments due shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that tax credit amounts properly claimed by a taxpayer who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the taxpayer; and provided further that no refund on account of the tax credit allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.
The election required by this subsection shall be made in a manner prescribed by the director on the taxpayer's return for the taxable year in which the system is installed and placed in service. A separate election may be made for each separate system that generates a credit. An election once made is irrevocable.
(h) Notwithstanding subsection (g), for any renewable energy technology system, an individual taxpayer may elect to have any excess of the credit over payments due refunded to the taxpayer, if:
(1) All of the taxpayer's income is exempt from taxation under section 235-7(a)(2) or (3); or
(2) The taxpayer's adjusted gross income is $20,000 or less (or $40,000 or less if filing a tax return as married filing jointly);
provided that tax credits properly claimed by a taxpayer who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the taxpayer; and provided further that no refund on account of the tax credit allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.
A [husband and wife] married
couple who do not file a joint tax return shall only be entitled to make this
election to the extent that they would have been entitled to make the election had
they filed a joint tax return.
The election required by this subsection shall be made in a manner prescribed by the director on the taxpayer's return for the taxable year in which the system is installed and placed in service. A separate election may be made for each separate system that generates a credit. An election once made is irrevocable.
(i) No taxpayer shall be allowed a credit under this section for the portion of the renewable energy technology system required by section 196-6.5 that is installed and first placed in service on any newly constructed single-family residential property authorized by a building permit issued on or after January 1, 2010.
(j)
The tax credit under this section shall be construed in accordance with
Treasury Regulations and judicial interpretations of similar provisions in
sections 25D, 45, and 48 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
(k)
A planned community association, condominium association of apartment
owners, or cooperative housing corporation may claim the tax credit under this
section in its own name for systems or facilities placed in service and located
on common areas.
(l)
No credit under this section shall be allowed to any federal, state, or
local government or any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality
thereof.
(m)
No credit under this section shall be authorized for taxable years
ending after December 31, 2028.
[(j)] (n) To the extent feasible, using existing resources
to assist the energy-efficiency policy review and evaluation, the department shall
assist with data collection on the following for each taxable year:
(1) The number of renewable energy technology or commercial seawater air conditioning systems that have qualified for a tax credit during the calendar year by:
(A) Technology type; and
(B) Taxpayer type (corporate and individual); and
(2) The total cost of the tax credit to the State during the taxable year by:
(A) Technology type; and
(B) Taxpayer type.
[(k)] (o) This section shall apply to eligible
renewable energy technology systems that are installed and placed in service on
or after July 1, 2009."
SECTION 5. Section 241-4.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§241-4.6 Renewable energy technologies[;] and
commercial seawater air conditioning system income tax credit. The renewable energy technologies and
commercial seawater air conditioning system income tax credit provided under section 235-12.5 shall be
operative for this chapter for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2002;
provided that the system was installed after June 30, 2003."
PART IV
SECTION 6. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
SECTION 7. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 8. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that part III shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019; provided further that section 235‑12.5(a)(1)(B), (a)(2)(A), (a)(3)(B), and (a)(3)(C), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Renewable Energy; Definition; Public Utilities; Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit; Commercial Seawater Air Conditioning System
Description:
Broadens the definition of "renewable energy" as used in the public utilities commission law to include other self-replenishing non-fossil fuel, non-nuclear resources. Amends the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by, among other things, including commercial seawater air conditioning systems. Takes effect on 7/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
