Clean energy jobs | Declares an intent to: (1) Attract a vibrant clean technology sector to the state; and (2) Improve the use of tax incentives, created in the act, by state residents and businesses, streamline program administration, and incubate the development of clean energy technology by modifying the existing renewable energy investment cost recovery incentive program.
Leased energy systems | Allows an electric utility or third-party vendor to offer a low-cost loan or lease program that provides customers across all rate classes access to renewable energy systems on their property. Requires the utilities and transportation commission to publish a list of financing models being offered by investor-owned utilities or third-party vendors registered as competitive electrical companies.
State energy policy | Requires the joint committee on energy supply and energy conservation to make recommendations to the energy committees of the legislature on ways to improve the effectiveness and implementation of the existing law and policies that would further the renewable energy and energy efficiency goals for utilities after 2020.
Requires the Washington State University energy program to conduct a resource assessment on the amount of new energy resources that could be made available with a high-efficiency cogeneration policy or a thermal heating efficiency policy to assist the joint committee deliberations in developing new energy performance standards after 2020.
Alternative fuel vehicles | Clarifies the application of sales and use tax exemptions for vehicles powered by clean alternative fuels.
High-tech R&D tax prefs | Delays the expiration of tax preferences for high-technology research and development.
Compressed natural gas/taxes | Imposes motor vehicle fuel taxes on natural gas, the sale of compressed natural gas, or liquefied natural gas, used as transportation fuel by a motor vehicle. Clarifies for future use the appropriate taxation of natural gas, when used as a transportation fuel, in a manner similar to gasoline and diesel.
High-tech R&D tax incentives | Delays the expiration date for high-technology businesses as follows: (1) The business and occupation tax credit for research and development spending; and (2) The sales and use tax deferral for eligible investment projects. Creates the high-technology research and development investment working group to develop recommendations for the legislature that integrates high-technology research and development activities with investments in higher education.
High-tech R&D tax prefs | Delays the expiration of tax preferences for high-technology research and development.
Compressed natural gas/taxes | Imposes motor vehicle fuel taxes on natural gas, the sale of compressed natural gas, or liquefied natural gas, used as transportation fuel by a motor vehicle. Clarifies for future use the appropriate taxation of natural gas, when used as a transportation fuel, in a manner similar to gasoline and diesel.
Tech-based econ development | Abolishes innovate Washington and transfers its powers, duties, and functions to the department of commerce. Requires innovate Washington to work with the department of enterprise services to have all real property used by innovate Washington assigned to Washington State University. Creates the innovate Washington program in the department of commerce to: (1) Support business growth in the state’s innovation and technology sectors; and (2) Facilitate statewide technology transfer and commercialization activities for the purpose of increasing the state’s economic vitality.
Requires the department of commerce to establish an investing in innovation grant and loan oversight board to review the grants and loans made from the investing in innovation program.
This report was made by Boswelll Consulting.