SB 1203 - The act promotes energy efficiency and the development and use of renewable energy.SECTION 135.563 - The act creates the Residential Alternative Energy tax credit; a tax credit for taxpayers who install or purchase various energy efficient equipment including solar panels, Energy Star appliances and heating and cooling systems, and energy efficient windows. The credits are not refundable and are available on a first come first serve basis. The act sets a limit of one thousand dollars for each individual applying for such credits and in each fiscal year, the aggregate amount of all such credits shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars.
SECTION 135.564 - The act creates a hybrid vehicle tax credit; a tax credit for taxpayers who purchase a hybrid vehicle. The credits are not refundable and are available on a first come first serve basis and must be filed by the individual within six months of purchasing the vehicle. The act sets a limit of five hundred dollars for each individual applying for such credits and in each fiscal year, the aggregate amount of all such credits shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars.
SECTION 135.565 - The act creates the Green Building tax credit; a program encouraging and providing incentives for the development of cleaner buildings and useable renewable energies within them. The process by which such credits are accessed is laid out in the act, first an individual shall apply to the department of revenue for a green building certificate and if approved, shall then apply for a green building tax credit. The act sets a limit of four million five hundred dollars for the aggregate amount of available tax credits per fiscal year. Eligible properties, technologies and the various credits available are all described in the act. Any individual receiving such a credit shall maintain records for the department on overall energy consumption for the project, and in turn, the department shall submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2010 on the number of credits redeemed under the act and the value of those credits. Based on this report, the department shall make recommendations on the establishment of a permanent green building tax credit program. The provisions of this section shall expire July 1, 2010.
SECTION 144.030 - The act exempts certain products equipped with the Energy Star Label from state sales tax; eligible products are to be determined by the Department of Revenue in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources' energy center. The act exempts tangible property used in energy conversion, thermal-efficiency improvements and the conversion of solid waste into energy, from state sales tax; eligible property shall be certified by the department prior to any exemptions being made.
SECTION 386.269 - The act directs any fossil fuel electric power generating facility constructed or significantly expanded after August 28, 2006, to utilize cogeneration facilities to recover energy otherwise lost. The Public Service Commission shall promulgate uniform standards for the interconnection of cogeneration systems to the utility grid.
SECTION 393.318 - The act directs the Public Service Commission to promulgate rules for a rebate program available to customers who switch from electric hot water heaters to solar hot water heaters. The rebate program is a voluntary one for regulated suppliers of electric energy and once begun, can be suspended provided the company does so in a manner prescribed by commission rule.
SECTION 393.320 - The act directs the Public Service Commission to establish rules for the implementation of a renewable sources of energy requirement. The mandate would require all regulated suppliers of electric energy to produce or use a percentage of that energy from renewable sources. The act asserts that by the year 2010, at least three percent of all energy from these suppliers originate from renewable sources, increasing by the year 2015 to at least five percent of the energy, and by the year 2020, at least ten percent of the energy produced or utilized by all regulated suppliers of electric energy shall originate from renewable sources. This language is similar to SB 843 (2006).
SECTION 640.150 - The act directs the Department of Natural Resources to provide free energy management and conservation training to recipients of utility assistance and to promulgate rules governing such training.
SECTION 640.151 - The act establishes the Missouri Center for Advanced Renewable Energy within the department of natural resources' energy center. The newly created center shall be responsible for improving the economic, environmental performance and feasibility of renewable energy production in the state. The act describes what areas of research the center shall be responsible for and authorizes the employment of necessary staff to accomplish the goals set for the center.
SECTIONS 640.690 to 640.692 - The act creates a subaccount within the energy set-aside program, to be called the "clean energy assistance program". The program shall encourage the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies as well as the modernization and expansion of facilities producing renewable energy. The Public Service Commission shall assess a charge to end use customers of electric services to be deposited into the subaccount, along with any moneys appropriated by the General Assembly. Eligibility requirements for assistance are described in the act as well as projects that shall not be considered for assistance.
SECTION 640.693 - The act directs the Department of Natural Resources' energy center to establish a program to provide technical and financial assistance to communities that prepare and submit a conservation plan to reduce consumption of natural gas and electricity within their communities. Requirements for plans are described in the act and the department is authorized to promulgate rules governing the process.
SECTION 640.694 - The act creates the Climate Change Advisory Commission, a commission made up of twenty-two members. Responsibilities of the commission are laid out in the act and include making recommendations to the General Assembly on programs to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions throughout the state. The commission shall submit their report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2010 and expire immediately thereafter.
SECTIONS 640.760 to 640.784 - The act creates a carbon sequestration registry, a voluntary registry to be maintained by the Department of Natural Resources with the purpose of monitoring the greenhouse gas emissions throughout the state. Specific activities that are to be reported are described in the act as well as the expectation that the department will adopt procedures and protocols for monitoring, estimating, calculating and reporting such emissions to the registry. The department shall, no later than January 1, 2008, and biennially thereafter, report to the governor and the General Assembly on the number of registry participants, quantifiable results from the participants' sequestration efforts, and recommendations for making the registry more easily workable for participants.
MEGAN WORD