Biomass Power Association Applauds Passage of American Taxpayer Relief Act

The Biomass Power Association (BPA) has applauded the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which includes energy tax provisions that will allow biomass facilities to qualify for what the association says are crucial production tax credits (PTC).

“The Biomass Power Association is grateful to Congress and the Administration for reaching an agreement, and for including legislation that will allow the biomass industry and all dispatchable power renewables to continue to grow,” says Bob Cleaves, president and CEO of BPA. “This is a small accommodation that costs the government very little in additional revenue, but will make a tremendous difference for qualifying facilities.”

The deal includes language altering the date by which a renewable energy facility can qualify for a PTC. Instead of having to begin producing energy by a “placed in service” date to qualify, new facilities can become eligible for these essential credits based on the date they begin construction. Without these amendments, the current “placed in service” deadline of Dec. 31, 2013, would have made it nearly impossible for any new open-loop facility to qualify, according to the BPA.

In early December 2012, BPA joined with National Hydropower Association, Geothermal Energy Association and Energy Recovery Council to send a letter to the Administration on the importance of these credits. The letter read, in part, “A rule that will allow renewable projects to go forward based on when construction begins is a major policy improvement that will allow many more clean energy projects to move forward during the statutory duration of the Section 45 Production Tax Credit.” The Senate Finance Committee originally passed this legislation in its “Family Business and Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012,” on Aug. 2, 2012.