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2016 SESSION

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HB 1305 Solar and wind energy equipment, etc.; tax exemptions.

Introduced by: Jackson H. Miller | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Sales and use tax exemption and real and personal property tax exemption; solar and wind energy equipment, facilities, and devices. Provides a sales and use tax exemption for machinery, tools, and equipment of a public service corporation used to generate energy derived from sunlight or wind, which expires June 30, 2027.

The bill also alters the types of projects of solar photovoltaic (electric energy) systems that qualify for the real and personal property tax exemptions on photovoltaic equipment and facilities. The full exemption is for such equipment and facilities used in (i) projects equaling 20 megawatts or less for which an initial interconnection request form is filed on or before December 31, 2018; (ii) projects equaling 20 megawatts or less that serve a public institution of higher education or a private college; and (iii) projects equaling 5 megawatts or less for which an initial interconnection request form is filed on or after January 1, 2019. The exemption is for 80% of the assessed value of such equipment and facilities used in (a) projects greater than 20 megawatts for which an initial interconnection request form has been filed with an electric utility or a regional transmission organization after January 1, 2015, and first in service on or after January 1, 2017, and (b) projects greater than 5 megawatts for which an initial interconnection request form is filed on or after January 1, 2019. Under current law, the property tax exemption is for projects equaling 20 megawatts or less. The bill provides that the exemption for projects greater than 20 megawatts shall not apply to projects upon which construction begins after January 1, 2024. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2017.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Sales and use tax exemption and real and personal property tax exemption; solar and wind energy equipment, facilities, and devices. Provides a sales and use tax exemption for machinery, tools, and equipment of a public service corporation used to generate energy derived from sunlight or wind, which expires June 30, 2027.

The bill also alters the types of projects of solar photovoltaic (electric energy) systems that qualify for the real and personal property tax exemptions on photovoltaic equipment and facilities. The full exemption is for such equipment and facilities used in (i) projects equaling 20 megawatts or less for which an initial interconnection request form is filed on or before December 31, 2018; (ii) projects equaling 20 megawatts or less that serve a public institution of higher education or a private college; and (iii) projects equaling 5 megawatts or less for which an initial interconnection request form is filed on or after January 1, 2019. The exemption is for 80% of the assessed value of such equipment and facilities used in (a) projects greater than 20 megawatts and first in service on or after January 1, 2017, and (b) projects greater than 5 megawatts for which an initial interconnection request form is filed on or after January 1, 2019. Under current law, the property tax exemption is for projects equaling 20 megawatts or less. The bill provides that the exemption for projects greater than 20 megawatts shall not apply to projects upon which construction begins after January 1, 2024. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2017.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Sales and use tax exemption and real and personal property tax exemption; solar and wind energy equipment, facilities, and devices. Provides a sales and use tax exemption for machinery, tools, and equipment of a public service corporation used to generate energy derived from sunlight or wind. The bill also reduces the maximum megawatts, from 20 to one, for projects of solar photovoltaic (electric energy) systems to qualify for real and personal property tax exemptions on photovoltaic equipment and facilities and exempts from such property taxes 80% of the assessed value of such equipment and facilities used in projects equaling more than one megawatt. Under current law, the exemption is only for projects equaling 20 megawatts or less and is based on the total value of the equipment and facilities. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2017, and does not apply to solar and wind energy equipment, facilities, and devices placed in service on or before December 31, 2016.