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Title:	Solar Energy Bill HB2429 to Come Before Arizona House
Author:	Dan Rusch-Fischer, CFM LEED-AP
Source:	drusch-fischer@facilitize.com
Date:	Jan. 23, 2006

Solar Energy Bill HB2429 to Come Before Arizona House
 
A solar energy tax incentive bill (HB2429) has been introduced in the Arizona House of Representatives and will face its first committee hearing on Wednesday in the Environmental Committee.  This legislation would make changes to Arizona's tax policies regarding solar energy equipment for residential and commercial applications.  Last year, solar tax legislation failed late in the legislative session.  This year, we need your help to push this legislation through the Arizona Legislature and on to the Governor for signature.  We do have opposition from Southwest Gas to the solar water heating provisions in the bill.  We need to show public support for the bill. HB2429 would make the following changes to Arizona tax policy regarding solar energy:

	*	Raise the cap on the Residential Tax Credit from the current limit of $1000 to a maximum of $2000. New language would also allow a homeowner to take a total of $5000 in solar tax credits per residence. A sunset date of December 31, 2012 is added.
	*	Create a Commercial Solar Tax Credit that will allow a 10% credit for the installation of solar energy devices for commercial or industrial purposes in a trade or business located in Arizona.  The credit is limited to $25,000 dollars with respect to the same building annually and  $50,000 annually per company.  There is an annual cap of $7 million. This provision shall sunset on December 31, 2012.
	*	Eliminate any potential property tax increase when adding solar energy systems to a property.
	*	Remove the $5000 limit on the solar sales tax exemption.

A hearing for HB2429 was scheduled before the House Environmental Committee on Wednesday, January 25th.

Environmental Committee Members:

	Ray Barnes, Chair (R) District 7	Phoenix	602-928-5503
	Colette Rosati, Vice Chair (R)  District 8	Scottsdale	602-928-5169
	Martha Garcia, (D)  District 13	Phoenix	602-926 5830
	Steve Huffman (R) District 26	Tucson	602-928-3394
	LandrumTaylor (D) District 16	Phoenix	602-928-5864
	Gary Pierce (R) District 18	Mesa	602-928-5760
	Michele Regan (R) District 8	Scottsdale	602-928-5828
	Robert Robson (R) District 20	Chandler	602-928-5549
	Kyrsten Sinema  (D) District 15	Phoenix	602-928-5058

How can you help?

Please contact your Representative in the House and ask for their support for HB2429- solar energy tax incentives when it comes to a vote on the floor.  If your representative is on the Environmental Committee please call and ask for their support in Committee.  If your business is located in their legislative district please call as well.   As noted above, there is opposition to the solar water heating provisions in the bill from Southwest Gas.  They have threatened an amendment to strike some of the solar water heating provisions from the tax credit.  We need to let our Legislature know that this bill is a comprehensive solar package designed to bring the air quality and economic development benefits of solar energy to Arizona and to limit solar water heating would limit these benefits Arizona.  Please contact your Legislators today!   Please e-mail your Legislators in the House and follow up with a telephone call to have the greatest impact.        


To email your legislators go to:

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/MemberRoster.asp

If you are not sure who your legislators are, you may go to:

http://www.vote-smart.org

You may also call the House or Senate information desks.  Outside of the Phoenix area, you may call your legislators office toll-free at 1-800-352-8404.  In the Phoenix area, call 602-926-3559 for the Senate and 602-926-4221 for the House.  Correspondence goes to 1700 W Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890  For more information on legislation go to:

http://www.azleg.state.az.us

Dan Rusch-Fischer is a board member and Communications Committee Chair for the USGBC-AZ, and an associate with fm|SOLUTIONS, a Phoenix based environmentally oriented facilites management firm.