Energy Tax Incentives Prominent in Senate Finance Committee’s Extenders Package
The Senate Finance Committee approved its long-awaited tax extenders package on April 3, 2014. The Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act, which the Committee approved by voice vote, would extend dozens of temporary tax incentives that expired at the end of last year or are set to expire at the end of this year. Moreover, the package includes numerous energy tax incentives that lapsed at the end of last year.
The EXPIRE Act would extend the following energy tax provisions:
- * Production tax credit and investment tax credit with respect to facilities producing electricity from certain renewable sources (e.g., wind) (Sections 45 and 48)
- * Deduction for energy efficient commercial building property (Section 179D)
- * Credit for residential energy efficient property (Section 25C)
- Alternative fuel refueling property credit (Section 30C)
- Credit for electric motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles (Section 30D)
- Second generation biofuel producer credit (Section 40)
- Special depreciation allowance for second generation biofuel plant property (Section 168(l))
- Tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel (Section 40A)
- Credit for the production of Indian coal (Section 45(e)(10))
- Credit for energy efficient new homes (Section 45L)
- Alternative fuel and alternative fuel mixture credit (Sections 6426 and 6427(e))
- Credit for new qualified fuel cell motor vehicles (Section 30B) (expires in 2014)
* Provision was not included in Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) “Chairman’s mark” but was added to the package before the Committee’s mark-up.
That said, the EXPIRE Act is, for the most part, a “clean” extenders package, meaning that the proposal mostly changes termination dates and includes few changes to underlying policy. As a result, certain modifications sought by the renewable energy industry were not included. For example, the proposal would not expand Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) along the lines of Senator Chris Coons’ Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act (S. 795). Additionally, the EXPIRE Act would not impose a “commence construction” requirement (as opposed to a “placed in service” requirement) with respect to solar projects under the investment tax credit under Section 48. Finally, it would not extend the credit for energy efficient appliances under Section 45M.
K&L Gates hosted Chairman Wyden for a breakfast meeting on April 8. Wyden stated that he is working with Senate leadership on a strategy that would bring the EXPIRE Act to the Senate floor. Some staff indicate that floor action could occur as early as the next congressional work period, during the weeks of April 28 or May 5. Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee may also consider energy tax incentives soon as part of its planned series of hearings on tax extenders.
We will provide more updates as this debate unfolds over the coming months.