ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2580
State of Washington
65th Legislature
2018 Regular Session
By House Technology & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Morris, Lytton, Fey, and Doglio; by request of Department of Commerce)
READ FIRST TIME 02/01/18.
AN ACT Relating to promoting renewable natural gas; amending RCW 82.04.260, 82.08.900, 82.08.962, 82.12.900, 82.12.962, 84.36.635, and 82.29A.135; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  This section is the tax preference performance statement for the tax preferences contained in sections 4, 6, 8, and 9, chapter . . ., Laws of 2018 (sections 4, 6, 8, and 9 of this act). The performance statement is only intended to be used for subsequent evaluation of the tax preferences. It is not intended to create a private right of action by any party or to be used to determine eligibility for preferential tax treatment.
(1) The legislature categorizes the tax preferences as ones intended to induce certain designated behavior by taxpayers, as indicated in RCW 82.32.808(2)(a).
(2) It is the legislature's specific public policy objective to increase the production of renewable natural gas in Washington state. It is the legislature's intent to reinstate and expand tax incentives for certain landfills and anaerobic digesters in order to stimulate investment in biogas capture and conditioning, compression, nutrient recovery, and use of renewable natural gas for heating, electricity generation, and transportation fuel.
(3) To measure the effectiveness of the tax preferences in sections 4, 6, 8, and 9, chapter . . ., Laws of 2018 (sections 4, 6, 8, and 9 of this act) in achieving the public policy objectives described in subsection (2) of this section, the joint legislative audit and review committee must evaluate the number of public and private landfills and anaerobic digesters producing renewable natural gas in the state and the extent to which they are utilizing these incentives.
(4) In order to obtain the data necessary to perform the review in subsection (3) of this section, the department of revenue must provide data needed for the joint legislative audit and review committee analysis. In addition to the data source described under this subsection, the joint legislative audit and review committee may use any other data it deems necessary.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS QUALITY STANDARD AND REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. (1) By September 1, 2018, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the Washington State University extension energy program and the department of commerce, in consultation with the Washington utilities and transportation commission, must submit recommendations to the governor's office and the energy committees of the legislature on how to promote the sustainable development of renewable natural gas in the state, including a detailed inventory of the practical opportunities and costs associated with renewable natural gas production in the state, specific opportunities for state agencies and public facilities to take advantage of renewable natural gas potential, recommendations for limiting the life-cycle carbon intensity of the renewable natural gas to the extent feasible, and whether to adopt a procurement standard for renewable natural gas.
(2) The department of commerce, in consultation with the department of ecology, the Washington utilities and transportation commission, and the department of health, must explore development of voluntary gas quality standards for the injection of renewable natural gas into the natural gas pipeline system. The purpose of such standards should be to identify acceptable levels of constituents of concern for safety and environmental purposes, including ensuring pipeline integrity, while providing reasonable and predictable access to pipeline transmission and distribution facilities. The department of commerce must consult industry groups and identify industry best practices.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "renewable natural gas" means a methane-rich gas derived from organic feedstocks that has been conditioned to meet standards for natural gas derived from fossil fuel sources.
Sec. 3.  RCW 82.04.260 and 2017 c 135 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing:
(a) Wheat into flour, barley into pearl barley, soybeans into soybean oil, canola into canola oil, canola meal, or canola by-products, or sunflower seeds into sunflower oil; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is equal to the value of the flour, pearl barley, oil, canola meal, or canola by-product manufactured, multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent;
(b) Beginning July 1, 2025, seafood products that remain in a raw, raw frozen, or raw salted state at the completion of the manufacturing by that person; or selling manufactured seafood products that remain in a raw, raw frozen, or raw salted state at the completion of the manufacturing, to purchasers who transport in the ordinary course of business the goods out of this state; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is equal to the value of the products manufactured or the gross proceeds derived from such sales, multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent. Sellers must keep and preserve records for the period required by RCW 82.32.070 establishing that the goods were transported by the purchaser in the ordinary course of business out of this state;
(c)(i) Except as provided otherwise in (c)(iii) of this subsection, from July 1, 2025, until January 1, 2036, dairy products; or selling dairy products that the person has manufactured to purchasers who either transport in the ordinary course of business the goods out of state or purchasers who use such dairy products as an ingredient or component in the manufacturing of a dairy product; as to such persons the tax imposed is equal to the value of the products manufactured or the gross proceeds derived from such sales multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent. Sellers must keep and preserve records for the period required by RCW 82.32.070 establishing that the goods were transported by the purchaser in the ordinary course of business out of this state or sold to a manufacturer for use as an ingredient or component in the manufacturing of a dairy product.
(ii) For the purposes of this subsection (1)(c), "dairy products" means:
(A) Products, not including any marijuana-infused product, that as of September 20, 2001, are identified in 21 C.F.R., chapter 1, parts 131, 133, and 135, including by-products from the manufacturing of the dairy products, such as whey and casein; and
(B) Products comprised of not less than seventy percent dairy products that qualify under (c)(ii)(A) of this subsection, measured by weight or volume.
(iii) The preferential tax rate provided to taxpayers under this subsection (1)(c) does not apply to sales of dairy products on or after July 1, 2023, where a dairy product is used by the purchaser as an ingredient or component in the manufacturing in Washington of a dairy product;
(d)(i) Beginning July 1, 2025, fruits or vegetables by canning, preserving, freezing, processing, or dehydrating fresh fruits or vegetables, or selling at wholesale fruits or vegetables manufactured by the seller by canning, preserving, freezing, processing, or dehydrating fresh fruits or vegetables and sold to purchasers who transport in the ordinary course of business the goods out of this state; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is equal to the value of the products manufactured or the gross proceeds derived from such sales multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent. Sellers must keep and preserve records for the period required by RCW 82.32.070 establishing that the goods were transported by the purchaser in the ordinary course of business out of this state.
(ii) For purposes of this subsection (1)(d), "fruits" and "vegetables" do not include marijuana, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products; and
(e) ((Until July 1, 2009, alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, as those terms are defined in RCW 82.29A.135; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to the business is equal to the value of alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock manufactured, multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent; and
(f))) Wood biomass fuel ((as defined in RCW 82.29A.135)); as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to the business is equal to the value of wood biomass fuel manufactured, multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent. For the purposes of this section, "wood biomass fuel" means a liquid or gaseous fuel that is produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks, including wood, forest, field residue, and dedicated energy crops, and that does not include wood treated with chemical preservations such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic.
(2) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of splitting or processing dried peas; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is equal to the value of the peas split or processed, multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent.
(3) Upon every nonprofit corporation and nonprofit association engaging within this state in research and development, as to such corporations and associations, the amount of tax with respect to such activities is equal to the gross income derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
(4) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of slaughtering, breaking and/or processing perishable meat products and/or selling the same at wholesale only and not at retail; as to such persons the tax imposed is equal to the gross proceeds derived from such sales multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent.
(5) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of acting as a travel agent or tour operator; as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to such activities is equal to the gross income derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
(6) Upon every person engaging within this state in business as an international steamship agent, international customs house broker, international freight forwarder, vessel and/or cargo charter broker in foreign commerce, and/or international air cargo agent; as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to only international activities is equal to the gross income derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
(7) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of stevedoring and associated activities pertinent to the movement of goods and commodities in waterborne interstate or foreign commerce; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is equal to the gross proceeds derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent. Persons subject to taxation under this subsection are exempt from payment of taxes imposed by chapter 82.16 RCW for that portion of their business subject to taxation under this subsection. Stevedoring and associated activities pertinent to the conduct of goods and commodities in waterborne interstate or foreign commerce are defined as all activities of a labor, service or transportation nature whereby cargo may be loaded or unloaded to or from vessels or barges, passing over, onto or under a wharf, pier, or similar structure; cargo may be moved to a warehouse or similar holding or storage yard or area to await further movement in import or export or may move to a consolidation freight station and be stuffed, unstuffed, containerized, separated or otherwise segregated or aggregated for delivery or loaded on any mode of transportation for delivery to its consignee. Specific activities included in this definition are: Wharfage, handling, loading, unloading, moving of cargo to a convenient place of delivery to the consignee or a convenient place for further movement to export mode; documentation services in connection with the receipt, delivery, checking, care, custody and control of cargo required in the transfer of cargo; imported automobile handling prior to delivery to consignee; terminal stevedoring and incidental vessel services, including but not limited to plugging and unplugging refrigerator service to containers, trailers, and other refrigerated cargo receptacles, and securing ship hatch covers.
(8)(a) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of disposing of low-level waste, as defined in RCW 43.145.010; as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to such business is equal to the gross income of the business, excluding any fees imposed under chapter 43.200 RCW, multiplied by the rate of 3.3 percent.
(b) If the gross income of the taxpayer is attributable to activities both within and without this state, the gross income attributable to this state must be determined in accordance with the methods of apportionment required under RCW 82.04.460.
(9) Upon every person engaging within this state as an insurance producer or title insurance agent licensed under chapter 48.17 RCW or a surplus line broker licensed under chapter 48.15 RCW; as to such persons, the amount of the tax with respect to such licensed activities is equal to the gross income of such business multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
(10) Upon every person engaging within this state in business as a hospital, as defined in chapter 70.41 RCW, that is operated as a nonprofit corporation or by the state or any of its political subdivisions, as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to such activities is equal to the gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.75 percent through June 30, 1995, and 1.5 percent thereafter.
(11)(a) Beginning October 1, 2005, upon every person engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing commercial airplanes, or components of such airplanes, or making sales, at retail or wholesale, of commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes, manufactured by the seller, as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is, in the case of manufacturers, equal to the value of the product manufactured and the gross proceeds of sales of the product manufactured, or in the case of processors for hire, equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of:
(i) 0.4235 percent from October 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007; and
(ii) 0.2904 percent beginning July 1, 2007.
(b) Beginning July 1, 2008, upon every person who is not eligible to report under the provisions of (a) of this subsection (11) and is engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing tooling specifically designed for use in manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes, or making sales, at retail or wholesale, of such tooling manufactured by the seller, as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is, in the case of manufacturers, equal to the value of the product manufactured and the gross proceeds of sales of the product manufactured, or in the case of processors for hire, be equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.2904 percent.
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (11), "commercial airplane" and "component" have the same meanings as provided in RCW 82.32.550.
(d) In addition to all other requirements under this title, a person reporting under the tax rate provided in this subsection (11) must file a complete annual tax performance report with the department under RCW 82.32.534.
(e)(i) Except as provided in (e)(ii) of this subsection (11), this subsection (11) does not apply on and after July 1, 2040.
(ii) With respect to the manufacturing of commercial airplanes or making sales, at retail or wholesale, of commercial airplanes, this subsection (11) does not apply on and after July 1st of the year in which the department makes a determination that any final assembly or wing assembly of any version or variant of a commercial airplane that is the basis of a siting of a significant commercial airplane manufacturing program in the state under RCW 82.32.850 has been sited outside the state of Washington. This subsection (11)(e)(ii) only applies to the manufacturing or sale of commercial airplanes that are the basis of a siting of a significant commercial airplane manufacturing program in the state under RCW 82.32.850.
(12)(a) Until July 1, 2024, upon every person engaging within this state in the business of extracting timber or extracting for hire timber; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to the business is, in the case of extractors, equal to the value of products, including by-products, extracted, or in the case of extractors for hire, equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.4235 percent from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, and 0.2904 percent from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2024.
(b) Until July 1, 2024, upon every person engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing or processing for hire: (i) Timber into timber products or wood products; or (ii) timber products into other timber products or wood products; as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to the business is, in the case of manufacturers, equal to the value of products, including by-products, manufactured, or in the case of processors for hire, equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.4235 percent from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, and 0.2904 percent from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2024.
(c) Until July 1, 2024, upon every person engaging within this state in the business of selling at wholesale: (i) Timber extracted by that person; (ii) timber products manufactured by that person from timber or other timber products; or (iii) wood products manufactured by that person from timber or timber products; as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to the business is equal to the gross proceeds of sales of the timber, timber products, or wood products multiplied by the rate of 0.4235 percent from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, and 0.2904 percent from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2024.
(d) Until July 1, 2024, upon every person engaging within this state in the business of selling standing timber; as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to the business is equal to the gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.2904 percent. For purposes of this subsection (12)(d), "selling standing timber" means the sale of timber apart from the land, where the buyer is required to sever the timber within thirty months from the date of the original contract, regardless of the method of payment for the timber and whether title to the timber transfers before, upon, or after severance.
(e) For purposes of this subsection, the following definitions apply:
(i) "Biocomposite surface products" means surface material products containing, by weight or volume, more than fifty percent recycled paper and that also use nonpetroleum-based phenolic resin as a bonding agent.
(ii) "Paper and paper products" means products made of interwoven cellulosic fibers held together largely by hydrogen bonding. "Paper and paper products" includes newsprint; office, printing, fine, and pressure-sensitive papers; paper napkins, towels, and toilet tissue; kraft bag, construction, and other kraft industrial papers; paperboard, liquid packaging containers, containerboard, corrugated, and solid-fiber containers including linerboard and corrugated medium; and related types of cellulosic products containing primarily, by weight or volume, cellulosic materials. "Paper and paper products" does not include books, newspapers, magazines, periodicals, and other printed publications, advertising materials, calendars, and similar types of printed materials.
(iii) "Recycled paper" means paper and paper products having fifty percent or more of their fiber content that comes from postconsumer waste. For purposes of this subsection (12)(e)(iii), "postconsumer waste" means a finished material that would normally be disposed of as solid waste, having completed its life cycle as a consumer item.
(iv) "Timber" means forest trees, standing or down, on privately or publicly owned land. "Timber" does not include Christmas trees that are cultivated by agricultural methods or short-rotation hardwoods as defined in RCW 84.33.035.
(v) "Timber products" means:
(A) Logs, wood chips, sawdust, wood waste, and similar products obtained wholly from the processing of timber, short-rotation hardwoods as defined in RCW 84.33.035, or both;
(B) Pulp, including market pulp and pulp derived from recovered paper or paper products; and
(C) Recycled paper, but only when used in the manufacture of biocomposite surface products.
(vi) "Wood products" means paper and paper products; dimensional lumber; engineered wood products such as particleboard, oriented strand board, medium density fiberboard, and plywood; wood doors; wood windows; and biocomposite surface products.
(f) Except for small harvesters as defined in RCW 84.33.035, a person reporting under the tax rate provided in this subsection (12) must file a complete annual tax performance report with the department under RCW 82.32.534.
(13) Upon every person engaging within this state in inspecting, testing, labeling, and storing canned salmon owned by another person, as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to such activities is equal to the gross income derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
(14)(a) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of printing a newspaper, publishing a newspaper, or both, the amount of tax on such business is equal to the gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.35 percent until July 1, 2024, and 0.484 percent thereafter.
(b) A person reporting under the tax rate provided in this subsection (14) must file a complete annual tax performance report with the department under RCW 82.32.534.
Sec. 4.  RCW 82.08.900 and 2015 c 86 s 202 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales to an eligible person:
(a) In respect to equipment necessary to process biogas from a landfill into marketable coproducts, including but not limited to biogas conditioning, compression, and electrical generation equipment, or to services rendered in respect to installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving equipment necessary to process biogas from a landfill into marketable coproducts; and
(b) Establishing or operating an anaerobic digester or to services rendered in respect to installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving an anaerobic digester, or to sales of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of the anaerobic digester. ((The anaerobic digester must be used primarily to treat livestock manure.))
(2) A person claiming an exemption under this section must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. Sellers may make tax exempt sales under this section only if the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The seller must retain a copy of the certificate for the seller's files.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section and RCW 82.12.900 unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Anaerobic digester" means a facility that processes ((manure from livestock into biogas and dried manure)) organic material into biogas and digestate using microorganisms in a decomposition process within a closed, oxygen-free container as well as the equipment necessary to process biogas or digestate produced by an anaerobic digester into marketable coproducts, including but not limited to biogas conditioning, compression, nutrient recovery, and electrical generation equipment.
(b) "Eligible person" means any person establishing or operating an anaerobic digester ((to treat primarily livestock manure)) or landfill.
(((c) "Primarily" means more than fifty percent measured by volume or weight.))
Sec. 5.  RCW 82.08.962 and 2017 3rd sp.s. c 36 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)(a) Except as provided in RCW 82.08.963, purchasers who have paid the tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020 on machinery and equipment used directly in generating electricity using fuel cells, wind, sun, biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources, ((anaerobic digestion,)) or technology that converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust, ((or landfill gas)) as the principal source of power, or to sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment, are eligible for an exemption as provided in this section, but only if the purchaser develops with such machinery, equipment, and labor a facility capable of generating not less than one thousand watts of electricity.
(b) ((Beginning on July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, the tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the sale of machinery and equipment described in (a) of this subsection that are used directly in generating electricity or to sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment.
(c))) Beginning on July 1, 2011, through January 1, 2020, the amount of the exemption under this subsection (1) is equal to seventy-five percent of the state and local sales tax paid. The purchaser is eligible for an exemption under this subsection (1)(((c))) (b) in the form of a remittance.
(2) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.962, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Biomass energy" includes: (i) By-products of pulping and wood manufacturing process; (ii) animal waste; (iii) solid organic fuels from wood; (iv) forest or field residues; (v) wooden demolition or construction debris; (vi) food waste; (vii) liquors derived from algae and other sources; (viii) dedicated energy crops; (ix) biosolids; and (x) yard waste. "Biomass energy" does not include wood pieces that have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic; wood from old growth forests; or municipal solid waste.
(b) "Fuel cell" means an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity by combining atoms of hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst.
(c) (("Landfill gas" means biomass fuel, of the type qualified for federal tax credits under Title 26 U.S.C. Sec. 29 of the federal internal revenue code, collected from a "landfill" as defined under RCW 70.95.030.
(d)))(i) "Machinery and equipment" means fixtures, devices, and support facilities that are integral and necessary to the generation of electricity using fuel cells, wind, sun, biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources, ((anaerobic digestion,)) or technology that converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust((, or landfill gas as the principal source of power)).
(ii) "Machinery and equipment" does not include: (A) Hand-powered tools; (B) property with a useful life of less than one year; (C) repair parts required to restore machinery and equipment to normal working order; (D) replacement parts that do not increase productivity, improve efficiency, or extend the useful life of machinery and equipment; (E) buildings; or (F) building fixtures that are not integral and necessary to the generation of electricity that are permanently affixed to and become a physical part of a building.
(3)(a) Machinery and equipment is "used directly" in generating electricity by wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources, ((anaerobic digestion,)) or technology that converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust((, or landfill gas power)) if it provides any part of the process that captures the energy of the wind, sun, biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources, ((anaerobic digestion,)) or technology that converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust, ((or landfill gas,)) converts that energy to electricity, and stores, transforms, or transmits that electricity for entry into or operation in parallel with electric transmission and distribution systems.
(b) Machinery and equipment is "used directly" in generating electricity by fuel cells if it provides any part of the process that captures the energy of the fuel, converts that energy to electricity, and stores, transforms, or transmits that electricity for entry into or operation in parallel with electric transmission and distribution systems.
(4)(a) A purchaser claiming an exemption in the form of a remittance under subsection (1)(((c))) (b) of this section must pay the tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020 and all applicable local sales taxes imposed under the authority of chapters 82.14 and 81.104 RCW. The purchaser may then apply to the department for remittance in a form and manner prescribed by the department. A purchaser may not apply for a remittance under this section more frequently than once per quarter. The purchaser must specify the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying purchases for which the exemption is claimed. The purchaser must retain, in adequate detail, records to enable the department to determine whether the purchaser is entitled to an exemption under this section, including: Invoices; proof of tax paid; and documents describing the machinery and equipment.
(b) The department must determine eligibility under this section based on the information provided by the purchaser, which is subject to audit verification by the department. The department must on a quarterly basis remit exempted amounts to qualifying purchasers who submitted applications during the previous quarter.
(5) The exemption provided by this section expires September 30, 2017, as it applies to: (a) Machinery and equipment that is used directly in the generation of electricity using solar energy and capable of generating no more than five hundred kilowatts of electricity; or (b) sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment.
(6) This section expires January 1, 2020.
Sec. 6.  RCW 82.12.900 and 2006 c 151 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to:
(1) Equipment necessary to process biogas from a landfill into marketable coproducts, including but not limited to biogas conditioning, compression, and electrical generation equipment, or to services rendered in respect to installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving equipment necessary to process biogas from a landfill into marketable coproducts; and
(2) The use of anaerobic digesters, tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of anaerobic digesters, or the use of services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving eligible tangible personal property by an eligible person establishing or operating an anaerobic digester, as defined in RCW 82.08.900. ((The anaerobic digester must be used primarily to treat livestock manure.))
Sec. 7.  RCW 82.12.962 and 2017 3rd sp.s. c 36 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)(a) Except as provided in RCW 82.12.963, consumers who have paid the tax imposed by RCW 82.12.020 on machinery and equipment used directly in generating electricity using fuel cells, wind, sun, biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources, ((anaerobic digestion,)) or technology that converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust, ((or landfill gas as the principal source of power,)) or to sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment, are eligible for an exemption as provided in this section, but only if the purchaser develops with such machinery, equipment, and labor a facility capable of generating not less than one thousand watts of electricity.
(b) ((Beginning on July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, the provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of machinery and equipment described in (a) of this subsection that are used directly in generating electricity or to sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment.
(c))) Beginning on July 1, 2011, through January 1, 2020, the amount of the exemption under this subsection (1) is equal to seventy-five percent of the state and local sales tax paid. The consumer is eligible for an exemption under this subsection (1)(((c))) (b) in the form of a remittance.
(2)(a) A person claiming an exemption in the form of a remittance under subsection (1)(((c))) (b) of this section must pay the tax imposed by RCW 82.12.020 and all applicable local use taxes imposed under the authority of chapters 82.14 and 81.104 RCW. The consumer may then apply to the department for remittance in a form and manner prescribed by the department. A consumer may not apply for a remittance under this section more frequently than once per quarter. The consumer must specify the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed. The consumer must retain, in adequate detail, records to enable the department to determine whether the consumer is entitled to an exemption under this section, including: Invoices; proof of tax paid; and documents describing the machinery and equipment.
(b) The department must determine eligibility under this section based on the information provided by the consumer, which is subject to audit verification by the department. The department must on a quarterly basis remit exempted amounts to qualifying consumers who submitted applications during the previous quarter.
(3) Purchases exempt under RCW 82.08.962 are also exempt from the tax imposed under RCW 82.12.020.
(4) The definitions in RCW 82.08.962 apply to this section.
(5) The exemption provided in subsection (1) of this section does not apply:
(a) To machinery and equipment used directly in the generation of electricity using solar energy and capable of generating no more than five hundred kilowatts of electricity, or to sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment, when first use within this state of such machinery and equipment, or labor and services, occurs after September 30, 2017; and
(b) To any other machinery and equipment described in subsection (1)(a) of this section, or to sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery or equipment, when first use within this state of such machinery and equipment, or labor and services, occurs after December 31, 2019.
(6) This section expires January 1, 2020.
Sec. 8.  RCW 84.36.635 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 11 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) For the purposes of this section((:
(a) "Alcohol fuel" means any alcohol made from a product other than petroleum or natural gas, which is used alone or in combination with gasoline or other petroleum products for use as a fuel for motor vehicles, farm implements, and machines or implements of husbandry.
(b))), "anaerobic digester" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.08.900.
(((c) "Biodiesel feedstock" means oil that is produced from an agricultural crop for the sole purpose of ultimately producing biodiesel fuel.
(d) "Biodiesel fuel" means a mono alkyl ester of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats for use in compression-ignition engines and that meets the requirements of the American society of testing and materials specification D 6751 in effect as of January 1, 2003.))
(2)(((a))) All buildings, machinery, equipment, and other personal property which are used primarily for ((the manufacturing of alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, biodiesel feedstock, or)) the operation of an anaerobic digester or the processing of biogas from a landfill into marketable coproducts, the land upon which this property is located, and land that is reasonably necessary in the ((manufacturing of alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, biodiesel feedstock, or the)) operation of an anaerobic digester, ((but not land necessary for growing of crops, which together comprise a new manufacturing facility or an addition to an existing manufacturing facility,)) are exempt from property taxation for the six assessment years following the date on which the facility or the addition to the existing facility becomes operational.
(((b) For manufacturing facilities which produce products in addition to alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, the amount of the property tax exemption is based upon the annual percentage of the total value of all products manufactured that is the value of the alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, and biodiesel feedstock manufactured.))
(3) Claims for exemptions authorized by this section must be filed with the county assessor on forms prescribed by the department of revenue and furnished by the assessor. Once filed, the exemption is valid for six ((years)) assessment years following the date on which the facility or the addition to the existing facility becomes operational and may not be renewed. The assessor must verify and approve claims as the assessor determines to be justified and in accordance with this section. No claims may be filed after December 31, ((2015, except for claims for anaerobic digesters, which may be filed no later than December 31, 2012)) 2024.
(4) The department of revenue may promulgate such rules, pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, as necessary to properly administer this section.
Sec. 9.  RCW 82.29A.135 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 11 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) For the purposes of this section((:
(a) "Alcohol fuel" means any alcohol made from a product other than petroleum or natural gas, which is used alone or in combination with gasoline or other petroleum products for use as a fuel for motor vehicles, farm implements, and machines or implements of husbandry.
(b))), "anaerobic digester" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.08.900.
(((c) "Biodiesel feedstock" means oil that is produced from an agricultural crop for the sole purpose of ultimately producing biodiesel fuel.
(d) "Biodiesel fuel" means a mono alkyl ester of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats for use in compression-ignition engines and that meets the requirements of the American society of testing and materials specification D 6751 in effect as of January 1, 2003.
(e) "Wood biomass fuel" means a pyrolytic liquid fuel or synthesis gas-derived liquid fuel, used in internal combustion engines, and produced from wood, forest, or field residue, or dedicated energy crops that do not include wood pieces that have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic.))
(2)(((a))) All leasehold interests in buildings, machinery, equipment, and other personal property which are used primarily for ((the manufacturing of alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel, biodiesel fuel, biodiesel feedstock, or)) the operation of an anaerobic digester, the land upon which this property is located, and land that is reasonably necessary in the ((manufacturing of alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel, biodiesel fuel, biodiesel feedstock, or the)) operation of an anaerobic digester((, but not land necessary for growing of crops, which together comprise a new manufacturing facility or an addition to an existing manufacturing facility,)) are exempt from leasehold taxes for a period of six years from the date on which the facility or the addition to the existing facility becomes operational.
(((b) For manufacturing facilities which produce products in addition to alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel, biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, the amount of the leasehold tax exemption is based upon the annual percentage of the total value of all products manufactured that is the value of the alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel, biodiesel fuel, and biodiesel feedstock manufactured.))
(3) Claims for exemptions authorized by this section must be filed with the department of revenue on forms prescribed by the department of revenue and furnished by the department of revenue. Once filed, the exemption is valid for six ((years)) assessment years following the date on which the facility or the addition to the existing facility becomes operational and may not be renewed. The department of revenue must verify and approve claims as the department of revenue determines to be justified and in accordance with this section. No claims may be filed after December 31, ((2015, except for claims for anaerobic digesters, which may be filed no later than December 31, 2012)) 2024.
(4) The department of revenue may promulgate such rules, pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, as are necessary to properly administer this section.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.  This act takes effect July 1, 2018.
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