BILL REQ. #:  H-1478.1 

Read first time 02/18/13.   Referred to Committee on Finance.

     AN ACT Relating to extending the expiration date of the existing business and occupation tax rate for the manufacture and wholesale of certain solar energy systems; amending RCW 82.04.294; and providing an expiration date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 82.04.294 and 2011 c 179 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules or stirling converters, or of manufacturing solar grade silicon, silicon solar wafers, silicon solar cells, thin film solar devices, or compound semiconductor solar wafers to be used exclusively in components of such systems; 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, or in the case of processors for hire, equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
     (2) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of making sales at wholesale of solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules or stirling converters, or of solar grade silicon, silicon solar wafers, silicon solar cells, thin film solar devices, or compound semiconductor solar wafers to be used exclusively in components of such systems, manufactured by that person; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is equal to the gross proceeds of sales of the solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules or stirling converters, or of the solar grade silicon to be used exclusively in components of such systems, multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
     (3) Silicon solar wafers, silicon solar cells, thin film solar devices, or compound semiconductor solar wafers are "semiconductor materials" for the purposes of RCW 82.08.9651 and 82.12.9651.
     (4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
     (a) "Compound semiconductor solar wafers" means a semiconductor solar wafer composed of elements from two or more different groups of the periodic table.
     (b) "Module" means the smallest nondivisible self-contained physical structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells and providing a single direct current electrical output.
     (c) "Photovoltaic cell" means a device that converts light directly into electricity without moving parts.
     (d) "Silicon solar cells" means a photovoltaic cell manufactured from a silicon solar wafer.
     (e) "Silicon solar wafers" means a silicon wafer manufactured for solar conversion purposes.
     (f) "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.
     (g) "Solar grade silicon" means high-purity silicon used exclusively in components of solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules to capture direct sunlight. "Solar grade silicon" does not include silicon used in semiconductors.
     (h) "Stirling converter" means a device that produces electricity by converting heat from a solar source utilizing a stirling engine.
     (i) "Thin film solar devices" means a nonparticipating substrate on which various semiconducting materials are deposited to produce a photovoltaic cell that is used to generate electricity.
     (5) A person reporting under the tax rate provided in this section must file a complete annual report with the department under RCW 82.32.534.
     (6) This section expires June 30, ((2014)) 2016.