H.R. 5984

Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008

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Contents

I

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5984

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2008

Mr. Bartlett of Maryland (for himself, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Kirk, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Herger, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Weldon of Florida, Mr. David Davis of Tennessee, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Pitts, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Fallin, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Petri, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Pence, Mr. Reichert, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Roskam, Mr. Upton, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Gerlach, and Mr. Dent) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the limited continuation of clean energy production incentives and incentives to improve energy efficiency in order to prevent a downturn in these sectors that would result from a lapse in the tax law.

1.

Short title; etc

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 .

(b)

Amendment of 1986 Code

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(c)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; etc.

TITLE I—Extension of clean energy production incentives

Sec. 101. Extension and modification of renewable energy production tax credit.

Sec. 102. Extension and modification of solar energy and fuel cell investment tax credit.

Sec. 103. Extension and modification of residential energy efficient property credit.

Sec. 104. Extension and modification of credit for clean renewable energy bonds.

Sec. 105. Extension of special rule to implement FERC restructuring policy.

TITLE II—Extension of incentives to improve energy efficiency

Sec. 201. Extension and modification of credit for energy efficiency improvements to existing homes.

Sec. 202. Extension and modification of tax credit for energy efficient new homes.

Sec. 203. Extension and modification of energy efficient commercial buildings deduction.

Sec. 204. Modification and extension of energy efficient appliance credit for appliances produced after 2007.

I

Extension of clean energy production incentives

101.

Extension and modification of renewable energy production tax credit

(a)

Extension of credit

Each of the following provisions of section 45(d) (relating to qualified facilities) is amended by striking January 1, 2009 and inserting January 1, 2010:

(1)

Paragraph (1).

(2)

Clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(A).

(3)

Clauses (i)(I) and (ii) of paragraph (3)(A).

(4)

Paragraph (4).

(5)

Paragraph (5).

(6)

Paragraph (6).

(7)

Paragraph (7).

(8)

Paragraph (8).

(9)

Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (9).

(b)

Production credit for electricity produced from marine renewables

(1)

In general

Paragraph (1) of section 45(c) (relating to resources) is amended by striking and at the end of subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H) and inserting , and, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(I)

marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy.

.

(2)

Marine renewables

Subsection (c) of section 45 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(10)

Marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy

(A)

In general

The term marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy means energy derived from—

(i)

waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas,

(ii)

free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and streams,

(iii)

free flowing water in an irrigation system, canal, or other man-made channel, including projects that utilize nonmechanical structures to accelerate the flow of water for electric power production purposes, or

(iv)

differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal energy conversion).

(B)

Exceptions

Such term shall not include any energy which is derived from any source which utilizes a dam, diversionary structure (except as provided in subparagraph (A)(iii)), or impoundment for electric power production purposes.

.

(3)

Definition of facility

Subsection (d) of section 45 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(11)

Marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities

In the case of a facility producing electricity from marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy, the term qualified facility means any facility owned by the taxpayer—

(A)

which has a nameplate capacity rating of at least 150 kilowatts, and

(B)

which is originally placed in service on or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and before January 1, 2010.

.

(4)

Credit rate

Subparagraph (A) of section 45(b)(4) is amended by striking or (9) and inserting (9), or (11).

(5)

Coordination with small irrigation power

Paragraph (5) of section 45(d), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by striking January 1, 2010 and inserting the date of the enactment of paragraph (11).

(c)

Sales of electricity to regulated public utilities treated as sales to unrelated persons

Section 45(e)(4) (relating to related persons) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: A taxpayer shall be treated as selling electricity to an unrelated person if such electricity is sold to a regulated public utility (as defined in section 7701(a)(33)..

(d)

Trash facility clarification

Paragraph (7) of section 45(d) is amended—

(1)

by striking facility which burns and inserting facility (other than a facility described in paragraph (6)) which uses, and

(2)

by striking combustion.

(e)

Effective dates

(1)

Extension

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to property originally placed in service after December 31, 2008.

(2)

Modifications

The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) shall apply to electricity produced and sold after the date of the enactment of this Act, in taxable years ending after such date.

(3)

Trash facility clarification

The amendments made by subsection (d) shall apply to electricity produced and sold before, on, or after December 31, 2007.

102.

Extension and modification of solar energy and fuel cell investment tax credit

(a)

Extension of credit

(1)

Solar energy property

Paragraphs (2)(A)(i)(II) and (3)(A)(ii) of section 48(a) (relating to energy credit) are each amended by striking January 1, 2009 and inserting January 1, 2017.

(2)

Fuel cell property

Subparagraph (E) of section 48(c)(1) (relating to qualified fuel cell property) is amended by striking December 31, 2008 and inserting December 31, 2016.

(3)

Qualified microturbine property

Subparagraph (E) of section 48(c)(2) (relating to qualified microturbine property) is amended by striking December 31, 2008 and inserting December 31, 2016.

(b)

Allowance of energy credit against alternative minimum tax

Subparagraph (B) of section 38(c)(4) (relating to specified credits) is amended by striking and at the end of clause (iii), by striking the period at the end of clause (iv) and inserting , and, and by adding at the end the following new clause:

(v)

the credit determined under section 46 to the extent that such credit is attributable to the energy credit determined under section 48.

.

(c)

Repeal of dollar per kilowatt limitation for fuel cell property

(1)

In general

Section 48(c)(1) (relating to qualified fuel cell), as amended by subsection (a)(2), is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), respectively.

(2)

Conforming amendment

Section 48(a)(1) is amended by striking paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B) of subsection (c) and inserting subsection (c)(2)(B).

(d)

Public electric utility property taken into account

(1)

In general

Paragraph (3) of section 48(a) is amended by striking the second sentence thereof.

(2)

Conforming amendments

(A)

Paragraph (1) of section 48(c), as amended by this section, is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (C).

(B)

Paragraph (2) of section 48(c), as amended by subsection (a)(3), is amended by striking subparagraph (D) and redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D).

(e)

Effective dates

(1)

Extension

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2)

Allowance against alternative minimum tax

The amendments made by subsection (b) shall apply to credits determined under section 46 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act and to carrybacks of such credits.

(3)

Fuel cell property and public electric utility property

The amendments made by subsections (c) and (d) shall apply to periods after the date of the enactment of this Act, in taxable years ending after such date, under rules similar to the rules of section 48(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990).

103.

Extension and modification of residential energy efficient property credit

(a)

Extension

Section 25D(g) (relating to termination) is amended by striking December 31, 2008 and inserting December 31, 2009.

(b)

No dollar limitation for credit for solar electric property

(1)

In general

Section 25D(b)(1) (relating to maximum credit) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.

(2)

Conforming amendments

Section 25D(e)(4) is amended—

(A)

by striking clause (i) in subparagraph (A),

(B)

by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) in subparagraph (A) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and

(C)

by striking , (2), in subparagraph (C).

(c)

Credit allowed against alternative minimum tax

(1)

In general

Subsection (c) of section 25D is amended to read as follows:

(c)

Limitation based on amount of tax; carryforward of unused credit

(1)

Limitation based on amount of tax

In the case of a taxable year to which section 26(a)(2) does not apply, the credit allowed under subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed the excess of—

(A)

the sum of the regular tax liability (as defined in section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by section 55, over

(B)

the sum of the credits allowable under this subpart (other than this section) and section 27 for the taxable year.

(2)

Carryforward of unused credit

(A)

Rule for years in which all personal credits allowed against regular and alternative minimum tax

In the case of a taxable year to which section 26(a)(2) applies, if the credit allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed by section 26(a)(2) for such taxable year reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under this subpart (other than this section), such excess shall be carried to the succeeding taxable year and added to the credit allowable under subsection (a) for such succeeding taxable year.

(B)

Rule for other years

In the case of a taxable year to which section 26(a)(2) does not apply, if the credit allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed by paragraph (1) for such taxable year, such excess shall be carried to the succeeding taxable year and added to the credit allowable under subsection (a) for such succeeding taxable year.

.

(2)

Conforming amendments

(A)

Section 23(b)(4)(B) is amended by inserting and section 25D after this section.

(B)

Section 24(b)(3)(B) is amended by striking and 25B and inserting , 25B, and 25D.

(C)

Section 25B(g)(2) is amended by striking section 23 and inserting sections 23 and 25D.

(D)

Section 26(a)(1) is amended by striking and 25B and inserting 25B, and 25D.

(d)

Effective date

(1)

In general

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.

(2)

Application of EGTRRA sunset

The amendments made by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(2) shall be subject to title IX of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 in the same manner as the provisions of such Act to which such amendments relate.

104.

Extension and modification of credit for clean renewable energy bonds

(a)

Extension

Section 54(m) (relating to termination) is amended by striking December 31, 2008 and inserting December 31, 2009.

(b)

Increase in national limitation

Section 54(f) (relating to limitation on amount of bonds designated) is amended—

(1)

by inserting , and for the period beginning after the date of the enactment of the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 and ending before January 1, 2010, $400,000,000 after $1,200,000,000 in paragraph (1),

(2)

by striking $750,000,000 of the in paragraph (2) and inserting $750,000,000 of the $1,200,000,000, and

(3)

by striking bodies in paragraph (2) and inserting bodies, and except that the Secretary may not allocate more than 1/3 of the $400,000,000 national clean renewable energy bond limitation to finance qualified projects of qualified borrowers which are public power providers nor more than 1/3 of such limitation to finance qualified projects of qualified borrowers which are mutual or cooperative electric companies described in section 501(c)(12) or section 1381(a)(2)(C).

(c)

Public power providers defined

Section 54(j) is amended—

(1)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(6)

Public power provider

The term public power provider means a State utility with a service obligation, as such terms are defined in section 217 of the Federal Power Act (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph).

, and

(2)

by inserting ; public power provider before the period at the end of the heading.

(d)

Technical amendment

The third sentence of section 54(e)(2) is amended by striking subsection (l)(6) and inserting subsection (l)(5).

(e)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to bonds issued after the date of the enactment of this Act.

105.

Extension of special rule to implement FERC restructuring policy

(a)

Qualifying electric transmission transaction

(1)

In general

Section 451(i)(3) (defining qualifying electric transmission transaction) is amended by striking January 1, 2008 and inserting January 1, 2010.

(2)

Effective date

The amendment made by this subsection shall apply to transactions after December 31, 2007.

(b)

Independent transmission company

(1)

In general

Section 451(i)(4)(B)(ii) (defining independent transmission company) is amended by striking December 31, 2007 and inserting the date which is 2 years after the date of such transaction.

(2)

Effective date

The amendment made by this subsection shall take effect as if included in the amendments made by section 909 of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

II

Extension of incentives to improve energy efficiency

201.

Extension and modification of credit for energy efficiency improvements to existing homes

(a)

Extension of credit

Section 25C(g) (relating to termination) is amended by striking December 31, 2007 and inserting December 31, 2009.

(b)

Qualified biomass fuel property

(1)

In general

Section 25C(d)(3) is amended—

(A)

by striking and at the end of subparagraph (D),

(B)

by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) and inserting , and, and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(F)

a stove which uses the burning of biomass fuel to heat a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, or to heat water for use in such a dwelling unit, and which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent.

.

(2)

Biomass fuel

Section 25C(d) (relating to residential energy property expenditures) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(6)

Biomass fuel

The term biomass fuel means any plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood waste and residues (including wood pellets), plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, and fibers.

.

(c)

Modifications of standards for energy-efficient building property

(1)

Electric heat pumps

Subparagraph (B) of section 25C(d)(3) is amended to read as follows:

(A)

an electric heat pump which achieves the highest efficiency tier established by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, as in effect on January 1, 2008.

.

(2)

Central air conditioners

Section 25C(d)(3)(D) is amended by striking 2006 and inserting 2008.

(3)

Water Heaters

Subparagraph (E) of section 25C(d) is amended to read as follows:

(E)

a natural gas, propane, or oil water heater which has either an energy factor of at least 0.80 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent.

.

(4)

Oil furnaces and hot water boilers

Paragraph (4) of section 25C(d) is amended to read as follows:

(4)

Qualified natural gas, propane, and oil furnaces and hot water boilers

(A)

Qualified natural gas furnace

The term qualified natural gas furnace means any natural gas furnace which achieves an annual fuel utilization efficiency rate of not less than 95.

(B)

Qualified natural gas hot water boiler

The term qualified natural gas hot water boiler means any natural gas hot water boiler which achieves an annual fuel utilization efficiency rate of not less than 90.

(C)

Qualified propane furnace

The term qualified propane furnace means any propane furnace which achieves an annual fuel utilization efficiency rate of not less than 95.

(D)

Qualified propane hot water boiler

The term qualified propane hot water boiler means any propane hot water boiler which achieves an annual fuel utilization efficiency rate of not less than 90.

(E)

Qualified oil furnaces

The term qualified oil furnace means any oil furnace which achieves an annual fuel utilization efficiency rate of not less than 90.

(F)

Qualified oil hot water boiler

The term qualified oil hot water boiler means any oil hot water boiler which achieves an annual fuel utilization efficiency rate of not less than 90.

.

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made this section shall apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2007.

202.

Extension and modification of tax credit for energy efficient new homes

(a)

Extension of credit

Subsection (g) of section 45L (relating to termination) is amended by striking December 31, 2008 and inserting December 31, 2010.

(b)

Allowance for contractor's personal residence

Subparagraph (B) of section 45L(a)(1) is amended to read as follows:

(B)
(i)

acquired by a person from such eligible contractor and used by any person as a residence during the taxable year, or

(ii)

used by such eligible contractor as a residence during the taxable year.

.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to homes acquired after December 31, 2008.

203.

Extension and modification of energy efficient commercial buildings deduction

(a)

Extension

Section 179D(h) (relating to termination) is amended by striking December 31, 2008 and inserting December 31, 2009.

(b)

Adjustment of maximum deduction amount

(1)

In general

Subparagraph (A) of section 179D(b)(1) (relating to maximum amount of deduction) is amended by striking $1.80 and inserting $2.25.

(2)

Partial allowance

Paragraph (1) of section 179D(d) is amended—

(A)

by striking $.60 and inserting $0.75, and

(B)

by striking $1.80 and inserting $2.25.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to property placed in service after the date of the enactment of this Act.

204.

Modification and extension of energy efficient appliance credit for appliances produced after 2007

(a)

In general

Subsection (b) of section 45M (relating to applicable amount) is amended to read as follows:

(b)

Applicable amount

For purposes of subsection (a)—

(1)

Dishwashers

The applicable amount is—

(A)

$45 in the case of a dishwasher which is manufactured in calendar year 2008 or 2009 and which uses no more than 324 kilowatt hours per year and 5.8 gallons per cycle, and

(B)

$75 in the case of a dishwasher which is manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009, or 2010 and which uses no more than 307 kilowatt hours per year and 5.0 gallons per cycle (5.5 gallons per cycle for dishwashers designed for greater than 12 place settings).

(2)

Clothes washers

The applicable amount is—

(A)

$75 in the case of a residential top-loading clothes washer manufactured in calendar year 2008 which meets or exceeds a 1.72 modified energy factor and does not exceed a 8.0 water consumption factor,

(B)

$125 in the case of a residential top-loading clothes washer manufactured in calendar year 2008 or 2009 which meets or exceeds a 1.8 modified energy factor and does not exceed a 7.5 water consumption factor,

(C)

$150 in the case of a residential or commercial clothes washer manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009, or 2010 which meets or exceeds 2.0 modified energy factor and does not exceed a 6.0 water consumption factor, and

(D)

$250 in the case of a residential or commercial clothes washer manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009, or 2010 which meets or exceeds 2.2 modified energy factor and does not exceed a 4.5 water consumption factor.

(3)

Refrigerators

The applicable amount is—

(A)

$50 in the case of a refrigerator which is manufactured in calendar year 2008, and consumes at least 20 percent but not more than 22.9 percent less kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 energy conservation standards,

(B)

$75 in the case of a refrigerator which is manufactured in calendar year 2008 or 2009, and consumes at least 23 percent but no more than 24.9 percent less kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 energy conservation standards,

(C)

$100 in the case of a refrigerator which is manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009, or 2010, and consumes at least 25 percent but not more than 29.9 percent less kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 energy conservation standards, and

(D)

$200 in the case of a refrigerator manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009, or 2010 and which consumes at least 30 percent less energy than the 2001 energy conservation standards.

.

(b)

Eligible production

(1)

Similar treatment for all appliances

Subsection (c) of section 45M (relating to eligible production) is amended—

(A)

by striking paragraph (2),

(B)

by striking (1) In general and all that follows through the eligible and inserting The eligible, and

(C)

by moving the text of such subsection in line with the subsection heading and redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.

(2)

Modification of base period

Paragraph (2) of section 45M(c), as amended by paragraph (1) of this section, is amended by striking 3-calendar year and inserting 2-calendar year.

(c)

Types of energy efficient appliances

Subsection (d) of section 45M (defining types of energy efficient appliances) is amended to read as follows:

(d)

Types of energy efficient appliance

For purposes of this section, the types of energy efficient appliances are—

(1)

dishwashers described in subsection (b)(1),

(2)

clothes washers described in subsection (b)(2), and

(3)

refrigerators described in subsection (b)(3).

.

(d)

Aggregate credit amount allowed

(1)

Increase in limit

Paragraph (1) of section 45M(e) (relating to aggregate credit amount allowed) is amended to read as follows:

(1)

Aggregate credit amount allowed

The aggregate amount of credit allowed under subsection (a) with respect to a taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $75,000,000 reduced by the amount of the credit allowed under subsection (a) to the taxpayer (or any predecessor) for all prior taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.

.

(2)

Exception for certain refrigerator and clothes washers

Paragraph (2) of section 45M(e) is amended to read as follows:

(2)

Amount allowed for certain refrigerators and clothes washers

Refrigerators described in subsection (b)(3)(D) and clothes washers described in subsection (b)(2)(D) shall not be taken into account under paragraph (1).

.

(e)

Qualified energy efficient appliances

(1)

In general

Paragraph (1) of section 45M(f) (defining qualified energy efficient appliance) is amended to read as follows:

(1)

Qualified energy efficient appliance

The term qualified energy efficient appliance means—

(A)

any dishwasher described in subsection (b)(1),

(B)

any clothes washer described in subsection (b)(2), and

(C)

any refrigerator described in subsection (b)(3).

.

(2)

Clothes washer

Section 45M(f)(3) (defining clothes washer) is amended by inserting commercial before residential the second place it appears.

(3)

Top-loading clothes washer

Subsection (f) of section 45M (relating to definitions) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8), respectively, and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:

(4)

Top-loading clothes washer

The term top-loading clothes washer means a clothes washer which has the clothes container compartment access located on the top of the machine and which operates on a vertical axis.

.

(4)

Replacement of energy factor

Section 45M(f)(6), as redesignated by paragraph (3), is amended to read as follows:

(6)

Modified energy factor

The term modified energy factor means the modified energy factor established by the Department of Energy for compliance with the Federal energy conservation standard.

.

(5)

Gallons per cycle; water consumption factor

Section 45M(f) (relating to definitions), as amended by paragraph (3), is amended by adding at the end the following:

(9)

Gallons per cycle

The term gallons per cycle means, with respect to a dishwasher, the amount of water, expressed in gallons, required to complete a normal cycle of a dishwasher.

(10)

Water consumption factor

The term water consumption factor means, with respect to a clothes washer, the quotient of the total weighted per-cycle water consumption divided by the cubic foot (or liter) capacity of the clothes washer.

.

(f)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to appliances produced after December 31, 2007.