BILL REQ. #:  S-0147.2 

Read first time 01/13/2005.   Referred to Committee on Water, Energy & Environment.

     AN ACT Relating to providing incentives to support renewable energy; adding new sections to chapter 82.16 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the use of renewable energy resources generated from local sources such as solar and wind power benefit our state by reducing the load on the state's electric energy grid, by providing nonpolluting sources of electricity generation, and by the creation of jobs for local industries that develop and sell renewable energy products and technologies.
     The legislature finds that Washington state has become a national and international leader in the technologies related to the solar electric markets. The state can support these industries by providing incentives for the purchase of locally made renewable energy products. Locally made renewable technologies benefit and protect the state's environment. The legislature also finds that the state's economy can be enhanced through the creation of incentives to develop additional renewable energy industries in the state.
     The legislature intends to provide incentives for the greater use of locally created renewable energy technologies, support and retain existing local industries, and create new opportunities for renewable energy industries to develop in Washington state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Customer-generated electricity" means the alternating current electricity that is generated from a renewable energy system located on an individual's, businesses', or local government's real property that is also provided electricity generated by a light and power business. A system located on a leasehold interest does not qualify under this definition. "Customer-generated electricity" does not include electricity generated by a light and power business with greater than one thousand megawatt hours of annual sales or a gas distribution business.
     (2) "Economic development kilowatt-hour" means the actual kilowatt-hour measurement of customer-generated electricity multiplied by the appropriate economic development factor.
     (3) "Photovoltaic cell" means a device that converts light directly into electricity without moving parts.
     (4) "Renewable energy system" means a solar energy system or a wind generator used for producing electricity.
     (5) "Solar energy system" means any device or combination of devices or elements that rely upon direct sunlight as an energy source for use in the generation of electricity.
     (6) "Solar inverter" means the device used to convert direct current to alternating current in a photovoltaic cell system.
     (7) "Solar module" means the smallest nondivisible self-contained physical structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells and providing a single direct current electrical output.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Any individual, business, or local governmental entity, not in the light and power business or in the gas distribution business, may apply to the light and power business serving the situs of the system, each fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2005, for an investment cost recovery incentive for each kilowatt-hour from a customer-generated electricity renewable energy system installed on its property. No incentive may be paid for kilowatt-hours generated before July 1, 2005.
     (2)(a) Before submitting the application for the incentive allowed under this section, the applicant shall submit to the department of revenue and to the climate and rural energy development center at the Washington State University, established under RCW 28B.30.642, a certification in a form and manner prescribed by the department that includes, but is not limited to, the following information:
     (i) The name and address of the applicant and location of the renewable energy system;
     (ii) The applicant's tax registration number;
     (iii) That the electricity produced by the applicant meets the definition of "customer-generated electricity" and that the renewable energy system produces electricity with:
     (A) Any solar inverters and solar modules manufactured in Washington state;
     (B) A wind generator powered by blades manufactured in Washington state;
     (C) A solar inverter manufactured in Washington state;
     (D) A solar module manufactured in Washington state; or
     (E) Solar or wind equipment manufactured outside of Washington state;
     (iv) That the electricity can be transformed or transmitted for entry into or operation in parallel with electricity transmission and distribution systems;
     (v) The date that the renewable energy system received its final electrical permit from the applicable local jurisdiction.
     (b) Within thirty days of receipt of the certification the department of revenue shall advise the applicant in writing whether the renewable energy system qualifies for an incentive under this section. The department may consult with the climate and rural energy development center to determine eligibility for the incentive. System certifications and the information contained therein are subject to disclosure under RCW 82.32.330(3)(m).
     (3)(a) By August 1st of each year application for the incentive shall be made to the light and power business serving the situs of the system by certification in a form and manner prescribed by the department that includes, but is not limited to, the following information:
     (i) The name and address of the applicant and location of the renewable energy system;
     (ii) The applicant's tax registration number;
     (iii) The date of the letter from the department of revenue stating that the renewable energy system is eligible for the incentives under this section;
     (iv) A statement of the amount of kilowatt-hours generated by the renewable energy system in the prior fiscal year.
     (b) Within sixty days of receipt of the incentive certification the light and power business serving the situs of the system shall notify the applicant in writing whether the incentive payment will be authorized or denied. The business may consult with the climate and rural energy development center to determine eligibility for the incentive payment. Incentive certifications and the information contained therein are subject to disclosure under RCW 82.32.330(3)(m).
     (c)(i) Persons receiving incentive payments shall keep and preserve, for a period of five years, suitable records as may be necessary to determine the amount of incentive applied for and received. Such records shall be open for examination at any time upon notice by the light and power business that made the payment or by the department. If upon examination of any records or from other information obtained by the business or department it appears that an incentive has been paid in an amount that exceeds the correct amount of incentive payable, the business may assess against the person for the amount found to have been paid in excess of the correct amount of incentive payable and shall add thereto interest on the amount.
     (ii) If it appears that the amount of incentive paid is less than the correct amount of incentive payable the business may authorize additional payment.
     (4) The investment cost recovery incentive may be paid fifteen cents per economic development kilowatt-hour unless requests exceed the amount authorized for credit to the participating light and power business. For the purposes of this section, the rate paid for the investment cost recovery incentive may be multiplied by the following factors:
     (a) For customer-generated electricity produced using solar modules manufactured in Washington state, two and four-tenths;
     (b) For customer-generated electricity produced using a solar or a wind generator equipped with an inverter manufactured in Washington state, one and two-tenths;
     (c) For customer-generated electricity produced using a wind generator equipped with blades manufactured in Washington state, one; and
     (d) For all other customer-generated electricity produced by solar or wind, eight-tenths.
     (5) No individual, household, business, or local governmental entity is eligible for incentives for more than two thousand dollars per year.
     (6) If requests for the investment cost recovery incentive exceed the amount of funds available for credit to the participating light and power business the incentive amounts may be reduced proportionately or paid on a first-come, first-served basis, at the option of the light and power business.
     (7) The climate and rural energy development center at Washington State University energy program may establish guidelines and standards for technologies that are identified as Washington manufactured and therefore most beneficial to the state's environment.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) A light and power business shall be allowed a credit against taxes due under this chapter in an amount equal to investment cost recovery incentive payments made in any fiscal year under section 3 of this act. The credit shall be taken in a form and manner as required by the department. The credit under this section shall not exceed twenty-five one-hundredths of the businesses' taxable power sales due under RCW 82.16.020(1)(b). The credit may not exceed the tax that would otherwise be due under this chapter. Refunds shall not be granted in the place of credits. Expenditures not used to earn a credit in one fiscal year may not be used to earn a credit in subsequent years.
     (2) The right to earn tax credits under this section expires June 30, 2015.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Sections 2 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 82.16 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   This act expires July 1, 2015.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005.