MichiganVotes Weekly Report: August 26, 2022

The Michigan House and Senate did not meet this week, so this report describes some bills related to regulations and subsidies for owners of wind and solar electric generation facilities. The legislature remains in recess until Sept. 7.

Senate Bill 1106 and 1107: Authorize property tax breaks for commercial solar electricity generation “farms”

Introduced by Sen. Curt VanderWall R-Ludington and Sen. Kevin Daley R-Attica, respectively, to authorize “personal property” tax breaks to developers of certain “solar energy facilities” capable of generating at least two megawatts of electricity. The tax break would apply to the facility but not the land on which it sits. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 6237: Authorize income tax credit for buying solar cells

Introduced by Rep. Abraham Aiyash D-Hamtramck, to authorize an income tax credit for both businesses and individuals equal to 10% of the cost of a photovoltaic energy system. If the credit exceeds the taxpayer’s annual income tax bill the unused portion could be “carried forward” and applied against up to five years of future income tax liability. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 1001: Ban homeowner association solar panel bans

Introduced by Sen. Rosemary Bayer D-Beverly Hills, to prohibit homeowner associations from prohibiting residents from installing solar panels on houses and in yards. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4236: Repeal utility "net-metering" caps

Introduced by Rep. Greg Markkanen R-Hancock, to repeal caps on a mandate that utilities must provide “distributed generation” or net metering programs, which requires them to purchase electricity from customers who generate small amounts. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bills 5357, 5707, 5708, 5878 and others: Authorize municipal subsidies for home renewable energy systems and more

The bills are versions of a similar proposal with primary sponsors Reps. Mark Huizenga R-Walker, Pat Outman R-Six Lakes, Tim Sneller D-Burton, Rachel Hood D-Grand Rapids and others, to expand a 2010 law and program that permits local governments to borrow money and lend it to a property owners for “energy efficiency” and other systems including solar and wind electricity generators, while also levying a special assessment (property tax) on the property from which the government debt is repaid. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4715: Tilt communal “net-metering” allocations to social service organizations

Introduced by Rep. Rachel Hood D-Grand Rapids, to require officials to write rules for an expanded electricity “net metering” mandate imposed on utilities, which requires them to purchase electricity from so-called “community renewable energy systems,” including solar collectors. The bill essentially proposes a “soft” quota system to provide that “low-income households and low-income service organizations” are able to take advantage of this mandate on electric utilities. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.