 March 2008 Newsletter Contents: by Malcolm Wolf Director of Maryland Energy Administration State Updates Rhode IslandRI HB 7625: An Act Relating To Human Services – Child Care Introduced, Referred to House Finance Committee 2/26/08 Would direct the Department of Human Services to provide a one-time reimbursement of $500 to residents who are caring for children subsidized by the department. The grant would be designated toward the improvement of energy efficiency in child care facilities or to help offset the increased costs of space heating in child care facilities. RI HB 7377: An Act Relating to Public Officers and Employees Introduced and Referred to House Environment and Natural Resources Committee 2/6/08 Would create a committee to study alternative methods for state employees to travel to work that would reduce their vehicle miles traveled. South CarolinaSC SB 1143/SC HB 4761 Referred to Committee on Finance Would exempt from the sales and use tax the purchase of Energy Star certified appliances and certain water heaters during the months of October 2008 and April 2009. Referred to Committee on Finance 2/21/08 Would put a limit on the sales tax that can be assessed on homes that have been Energy Star certified. Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources 2/21/08 Would require each state agency to set a goal of reducing energy consumption by at least 1% per year. Would require state agencies to purchase equipment that meets or exceeds Energy Star standards, and to replace all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Would require each state agency to set goals for the percentage of their energy that is generated by renewable sources. Referred to Committee on Judiciary 2/06/08 Would create a non-profit entity called “Operation Empowered” to provide financial assistance to low-income households to implement energy-efficiency and conservation measures. South DakotaSD HB 1319 Engrossed 2/6/08 Would create a State Government Energy Savings Subfund within the Energy Conservation Loan Special Revenue Fund. The subfund would make loans to state agencies and institutions for energy-saving capital improvements. TennesseeTN SB 4039/TN HB 4039 Passed Second Consideration and Referred to Senate Education Committee 2/4/08 Would create an energy efficient schools council to award grants and loans to schools, and to conduct research, for the implementation of energy efficient technology in schools TN SB 3975/TN HB 3879 Passed Second Consideration and Referred to the Senate Trans Committee 2/4/08 Would permit hybrid-electric vehicles to drive in HOV lanes. TN SB 3481/TN HB 3481 Referred to Senate Tax Subcommittee 1/29/08 Would create a four-day period annually when appliances that are Energy Star certified are exempt from sales tax. TN SB 3311/TN HB 3790 Passed Second Consideration and Referred to Senate State and Local Government Committee 1/23/08 Would require that providers of services, materials and equipment in state and local building contracts meet energy efficiency standards. TN SB 3170/TN HB 3093 Referred to Senate Tax Subcommittee 1/29/08 Would exempt from sales tax all sales of Energy Star certified household appliances, certain renewable energy equipment and the installation of such equipment. TN SB 3093/TN HB 2554 Passed Second Consideration, Referred to Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee Would update the Tennessee Code to reflect the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code rather than the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code with 2002 amendments. TN SB 3092/TN HB 2757 Passed Second Consideration and Referred to Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee 1/23/08 Would replace the 1992 edition of the Model Energy Code with the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code with 2002 amendments as the minimum requirement for energy use in new buildings. TN SB 3053/TN HB 3823 Referred to Senate Tax Subcommittee 1/29/08 Would exempt from sales and use tax compact fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent light bulbs that are Energy Star certified and purchased for household use. TN SB 2872/HB 2815 TN SB 2716/TN HB 2794 Passed Second Consideration and Referred to Senate Trans Committee 2/14/08 Would permit alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles to drive in HOV lanes. TN SB 2700/TN HB 3175 Referred to Senate Tax Subcommittee 1/29/08 Would exempt from the sales and use tax household appliances that have been awarded the Energy Star label, along with compact fluorescent lamps and light bulbs when purchased for household use. TN SB 2671/TN HB 2895 Action Deferred in Senate Tax Subcommittee to Next Calendar Would replace the $0.20 per ton tax on coal products with a tax of 4.5% of the gross values of the coal products. Would create the Tennessee Coal Severance Fund, the proceeds from which would go in part to programs for energy conservation. UtahUT HB 199: Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Residences Introduced 2/14/08 Would provide tax credits for newly constructed energy efficient residences and for the purchase of energy efficient retrofits to existing residences. UT HB 198: State Agency Energy Efficiency Introduced 2/11/08 Among other things, would create a revolving loan fund, known as the “State Facility Energy Efficiency Fund,” that would make loans to state agencies for energy efficiency measures. UT HB 106: Clean Air and Efficiency Vehicle Tax Incentives Amended 2/27/08 Would provide a tax credit of $750 for the purchase of new vehicles that meet fuel economy standards (31 miles per gallon for gas-fueled cars), and would newly include hybrid vehicles in such a tax credit. VirginiaVA SB 627: Commission on Climate Change; Report Introduced 1/9/08 Would establish the Commission on Climate Change, which would develop a Climate Change Action Plan; Also establishes the High School Climate Change Leadership Awards Program to provide higher-education scholarships to students who demonstrate leadership in addressing climate change. VA SB 317: Income Tax; Certified EarthCraft House tax credit Introduced 1/9/08 Would entitle taxpayers who purchase and reside in a newly built house that is certified by the EarthCraft House Program to a tax credit of $500 for one year. VA SB 280: Sales and Use Tax Exemption; Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs Introduced 1/9/08 Would exempt from the sales and use tax all light bulbs that qualify for Energy Star certification. VA SB 234: Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Mandatory Reporting Introduced 1/9/08 Would require the adoption of regulations for the annual reporting and verification of emissions of greenhouse gases from large emitters; also establishes a program for the voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas reductions. VA SB 174: Classification of Real Property; Energy-Efficient Buildings Introduced 1/9/08 Would reclassify energy-efficient buildings for tax purposes as those that meet or exceed LEED, EarthCraft, or Energy Star standards, rather than as those that exceed by 30% the standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. VA HB 1434: Retail Sales and Use Tax; Exemptions include Energy Star-rated light bulbs. Introduced 1/14/08 Would exempt from the sales and use tax all light bulbs that meet or exceed Energy Star standards. VA HB 1287: Electric Energy Conservation; SCC to Conduct Meeting to Establish Goals Introduced 1/9/08 Would require the State Corporation Commission to conduct a proceeding to consider the establishment of electric energy conservation goals. VA HB 1230: Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Mandatory Reporting thereof from Stationary Sources Introduced 1/9/08 Would require the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt regulations requiring significant emitters of greenhouse gasses who are already required to report air pollutant emissions to report annually their greenhouse gas emissions. VA HB 1229: Sales and Use Tax; Energy Conservation Products Tax Holiday Introduced 1/9/08 Would extend the exemption from sales and use taxes that applies to Energy Star products: to apply during two four-day periods per year instead of one; to apply to air-conditioning, natural gas, propane and fuel oil equipment; and to apply to WaterSense-qualified products as well. VA HB 796: Commission on Climate Change Introduced 1/9/08 Would establish the Commission on Climate Change for the purpose of developing a Climate Change Action Plan VA HB 793: Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Secretary of Natural Resources to Develop Strategy to Reduce Introduced 1/9/08 Would direct the Secretary of Natural Resources to report by 2009 on Virginia’s 2005 greenhouse gas emissions; Would direct the Secretary to produce a plan that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% of 2005 levels by 2025 and by 80% by 2050 VA HB 744: Income Tax, State; Deduction for Energy-Efficient Equipment Introduced 1/9/08 Would create a tax deduction for 50% of the amount a taxpayer spent in a given year on energy-efficient equipment for his residence, up to $7,500 VA HB 732: Income Tax; Energy-Efficient Equipment Tax Credit Introduced 1/9/08 Would create a tax credit for 25% of the amount a taxpayer spent in a given year on energy-efficient equipment for his residence, up to $7,500 VA HB 686: Retail Sales and Use Tax; Exemptions Include Energy Star-Rated Fluorescent Light Bulbs Introduced 1/9/08 Would exempt from the sales and use tax compact fluorescent light bulbs that are designated as Energy Star VA HB 676: Climate Change, Commission on; Created, Report Introduced 1/9/08 Would create the Commission on Climate Change to study, report on and make recommendations to mitigate the risks of climate change, and to report on prospective greenhouse gas regulation. VA HB 418: Uniform Statewide Building Code; Energy Efficiency Rating to be Included in Final Inspection Introduced 1/9/08 Would direct the Board of Housing and Community Development to require the energy efficiency rating to be included in the Certificate of Occupancy issued for every residential dwelling pursuant to the Uniform Statewide Building Code. VA HB 239: Real Estate Tax; Classification of Certain Energy-Efficient Buildings Introduced 1/9/08 Would change the definition of an energy-efficient building, for the purposes of real-estate taxation, from a building that exceeds Virginia building code by 30% to one that meets or exceeds LEED, Energy Star or EarthCraft standards. VA HB 219: Retail Sales and Use Tax; Energy Star Products Tax Holiday Introduced 1/9/08 Would add a second annual four-day period during which Energy Star qualified products under $2,500 are exempt from sales and use taxes. VA HB 171: Resources Authority; Authorized to Finance Local Government Energy Efficiency Projects Introduced 1/9/08 Would give to the Virginia Resources Authority general authority to fund local energy efficiency products. VA HB 162: Income Tax, State; Certified EarthCraft House Tax Credit Introduced 1/9/08 Would create a one-time, $750 tax credit for a taxpayer who purchases and resides in a newly built house certified by the EarthCraft House Program. VA HB 56: Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemption; Certain Energy-Efficient Products Introduced 1/9/08 Would add a second annual four-day period during which Energy Star qualified products under $2,500 are exempt from sales and use taxes. VA EO 59: Executive Order on the Governor's Commission on Climate Change Executive Order 12/21/07 Established the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change and charged it with preparing a Climate Change Action Plan. VermontVT SB 350: Energy Independence and Economic Prosperity Introduced 1/16/08 Would integrate energy efficiency measures into the activities and goals of many state departments. Would update transportation, land use and energy plans to reflect the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. VT HB 793: Establishing the Vermont Carbon Offset Fund Introduced 2/5/08 Would establish a voluntary carbon offset fund, to be administered by the department of public service. VT HB 784: Energy Conservation in Public Schools Introduced 2/1/08 Would create three programs to reduce energy consumption in state public schools, one of which would provide financial incentives to school districts for energy retrofits. VT HB 718: High Performance School Design and Construction Standards Introduced 1/29/08 Would make state financing for public school construction projects contingent on compliance with energy and environmental standards to be set by the commissioner of education, the department of public service and a new advisory committee. VT HB 706: Establishing an Efficiency Utility for Space Heating Introduced 1/25/08 Would create an energy efficiency utility for space heating purposes and require the development of an energy efficiency plan for space heating. WashingtonIntroduced 2/6/08; Referred to the Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education 2/6/08; passed with Amendments by the Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education 2/8/08; Referred to Senate Rules Committee 2/8/08 Would repeal, as of May 2011, a great amount of legislation pertaining to schools, including two provisions relating to high-performance public buildings. Introduced 2/6/08 Would impose taxes on car owners in proportion to the fuel economy of their vehicles. Would direct the tax revenues to transportation programs that reduce the propensity of single-passenger driving. Amended 2/12/08 Would establish benchmarks for the state to reduce per-capita vehicle miles traveled by 18% by 2020, by 30% by 2035 and by 50% by 2050. Would convene a collaborative process to establish methods for the achievement of these benchmarks. WA SB 6746/WA HB 2847 Introduced 1/22/08 Would exclude the purchase of residential weatherization materials from some sales and use taxes. Amended 2/7/08 Would direct the Department of Ecology to design a market-based cap and trade system. Would direct the department of community, trade, and economic development to design and implement a forestry carbon offset program. Amended 2/8/08 Would create the Washington energy efficiency working training program to provide under-privileged youth and others with occupational skills training in energy-efficiency building, construction and retrofit industries. WA SB 6580/ WA HB 2797 Engrossed 2/19/08 Would require the study, report and recommendation of measures that county and local governments can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through land use and building measures. Would establish a local government global warming mitigation and adaptation program. WA SB 6516 /WA HB 2815 Passed by Senate, sent to Governor. Would direct the development and implementation of a program to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions according to certain benchmarks, culminating in reductions to 50% of 1990 levels by the year 2050. WA SB 6515/WA HB 2888 Introduced 1/17/08 Would exempt from the sales and use tax purchases of performance-based contracted energy equipment and services and energy-management systems. Engrossed 2/19/08 Would require all commercial, industrial and retail facilities, all office buildings and all state-funded public agency facilities to recycle mercury-added general purpose lights by 2010 or 2011. WA SB 6484/HB 2889 Introduced 1/17/08 Would exclude from the rental car tax car sharing programs that meet certain requirements. WA SB 6469/WA HB 2844 Amended 2/8/08 Would encourage, facilitate and recognize urban forestry initiatives in the state. WA SB 6379/WA HB 2876 Introduced 1/16/08 Would exempt from a sales and use tax many energy-efficient products for residential and commercial use. Engrossed 2/18/08 Would authorize a study to recommend a comprehensive program of climate change research, preparation and adaptation. Introduced 2/11/08 Would provide a tax credit in an amount equal to the sales and use taxes on energy efficient commercial appliances bought by an individual in a given year. WA HB 3154/WA SB 6822 Introduced 1/23/08 Mandates the Department of Transportation to adopt goals for the statewide reduction of vehicle miles traveled consistent with the goals of Executive Order 07-02, which would culminate in a reduction of vehicle miles traveled by 50% by the year 2050. WA HB 3120/WA SB 6773 Amended 2/12/08 Would direct the department of community, trade and economic development to conduct a study on the feasibility and effectiveness of providing tax incentives to encourage green building in commercial and residential buildings. Introduced 1/22/08 Would create the Washington State Department of energy. Introduced 1/16/08 Would require the conduct of a study of: the estimated energy-efficiency gains as a result of the 2006 updates to the state energy code; and the feasibility of the state’s achieving zero net energy residential buildings by 2020 and zero net energy commercial buildings by 2030. Amended 2/5/08 Would require all state-funded public agency facilities to recycle their fluorescent lamps by July 1, 2010. Amended 2/1/08 Would add to the list of appliances and products to which the energy efficiency code applies. Amended 2/7/08 Would increase the energy efficiency standards for lamps sold within the state. Would direct the Department of Ecology to convene a work group to consider and recommend the most effective methods by which to encourage the recycling of end-of-life general purpose lights. WisconsinIntroduced 2/19/08; Referred to Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, and Housing Would create a tax credit for the purchase of energy-efficient products, including those that qualify for an Energy Star rating. Introduced 1/29/08; Referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources 1/29/08; Amendment offered 2/13/08 Would exempt from sales tax all Energy Star products priced under $1,500 for one week to coincide with the week of Earth Day. Introduced 2/27/07; Fiscal Note 3/20/07; Fiscal Note 2/5/08 Would create an income and franchise tax credit in an amount equal to the amount a person paid in the taxable year for items that either are energy efficient or have a minimal environmental impact and that are used to construct or operate a "green data center." Introduced 1/24/08; Referred to House Ways and Means Committee 1/24/08; Amended 2/4/08; Amended 2/14/08; Executive Action Taken 2/20/08 Would exempt from sales tax all Energy Star products priced under $1,500 for one week to coincide with the week of Earth Day. West VirginiaIntroduced 1/29/08 Would grant counties and municipalities the same authorization as state agencies currently have to enter into performance-based contracts with qualified providers of energy conservation measures for the purpose of significantly reducing the energy operating costs of agency-owned buildings. Would impose the same requirements and limitations as currently apply to agencies. WV SB 474 - Creating limited sales tax holiday for certain Energy Star appliance purchases Introduced 1/28/08; Passed with Amendments by the Senate Finance Committee 2/19/08; Passed by the Senate 2/22/08; Sent to House 2/24/08. Would provide for a week in September 2008, and the full months of September in 2009 and 2010, during which no sales tax would be assessed on the purchase of qualifying Energy Star products. WV SB 167: Authorizing municipalities to enter into energy-saving contracts Introduced 1/10/08; Referred to Senate Finance Committee 1/31/08 Would grant municipalities the same authorization as state agencies currently have to enter into performance-based contracts with qualified providers of energy conservation measures for the purpose of significantly reducing the energy operating costs of agency-owned buildings. Would impose the same requirements and limitations as currently apply to agencies. WV SB 11: Reducing state vehicles’ petroleum-based fuel consumption Introduced 1/9/08; Referred to Senate Finance Committee 2/20/08 Would set goals for the state vehicle fleet for a reduction of petroleum use and an increase in the use of alternative fuels. WV HB 4305: Providing an annual exemption from the consumers sales and service tax for purchases of certain energy efficient products Introduced 1/28/08; Referred to House Finance Committee 1/28/08 Would provide for a week in September 2008 when no sales tax would be assessed on qualified Energy Star products whose price is less than $2,500. WV HB 4133: Strengthening of vehicle emission standards Introduced 1/23/08; Referred to the House Committee on Roads and Transportation 1/23/08 Would direct the Department of Environmental Protection to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program beginning in the 2011 automobile year. WV HB 4095: Create a commission to study the impact of global warming on the State of West Virginia Introduced 1/21/08; Referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources 1/21/08 Would establish a West Virginia Global Warming Impact Assessment Commission, which would study the effects and costs of global warming on West Virginia, and potential mitigation strategies. WV HB 4028: Authorizing counties and municipalities to enter into contracts for energy savings Introduced 1/11/08; Passed by House Judiciary Committee with Amendment 1/29/08; Passed by House 2/1/08; Sent to Senate 2/01/08 Would grant municipalities the same authorization as state agencies currently have to enter into performance-based contracts with qualified providers of energy conservation measures for the purpose of significantly reducing the energy operating costs of agency-owned buildings. Would impose the same requirements and limitations as currently apply to agencies, as well as time limitations on contracts. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||