Victory for Clean Energy

Victory for Clean Energy
On October 13, the Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1394, sponsored by Representative Tom Houghton (D-Chester), that allows landowners to lease land enrolled in Clean and Green for wind energy and pay back taxes on only the portion of the property used for the wind energy system. This is an important distinction since the remaining farmland can still be used for agriculture and grazing. The bill also allows an exemption on rollback taxes for land devoted to other Tier I Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act resources (such as small-wind, methane digesters, and solar) if the majority of the power generated is used on the property.

Passage of House Bill 1394 would be a tremendous win for clean energy development. The bill provides much needed clarity on the issue of back taxes which has held up the development of some of the state's wind projects.

The bill now moves to the House which is expected to concur with the Senate amendments when it returns to session the week of November 8.

From: PennFuture, 10/31/2010