This blog printed on 100% recycled electrons.
There's still no way I'm voting for an Oral Roberts University graduate for Senate, and I remain suspicious of anyone who has made a living working for Big Oil, but I will give Representative Joal Dykstra (R-16/Canton) props on energy policy. Sure, he's primary sponsor of the silly and toothless House Bill 1123, but he's also prime sponsor of HB 1184, "An act to create a renewable energy property tax incentive program." HB 1184 would give a 50% property tax refund to anyone who builds a new facility that generates electricity from wind, solar, hydroelectric, hydrogen, biomass, geothermal, or "recycled energy" from "currently unused waste heat." The refund is limited to ten years and may not exceed the cost of building the facility.
Not a bad idea -- energy self-sufficiency is a vital goal worth sacrificing some tax revenue for. My only quibble is that, if I'm reading the bill correctly, the incentive excludes small scale projects that don't produce power for sale on the bulk transmission grid. Big wind farms and renewable power plants are good, but small operators who just want to invest in a wind turbine or a couple solar panels should get a similar incentive as well. Everyone, large or small, who does her part to produce her own power and take the burden off the common grid deserves a piece of the tax incentive pie.
(Props to District 8's delegation as well: Russ, Dan, and Dave are all on board as cosponsors of HB 1184!)
Now if only Dykstra would just spend more time on energy legislation than that monkey business he's sponsoring about sonograms....
Drinking Liberally Update (11/15/2024)
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In Politics: Nationally: The Election is over and the wrong side won. I
have nothing to contribute to the barrels of ink being used by Pundits to
explain a...
3 days ago
are there not already tax incentives available in South Dakota for those who invest in personal renewable energy options on their home? If I recall correctly, there are forms available that provide incentives on property taxes and I think those forms are available at the local equalization office at the courthouse.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with some of the statements, but you really have to know Dykstra. He puts on a good face but deep down inside he is nothing but an A-- that makes people feel like they are not important if you can't meet his needs and expectation.
ReplyDeleteWe'll Dykstra I have to inform you that you not fooling anybody here with you face that you put on. Typical politcs on your side is what I hear. If you don't have the educational background, job qualifications (as he has), ability to make a difference like he can, he has no time for you.
Alot of people make a difference in their own little way, but if you can't measure up to him, he won't even talk to you.
Obviously you can tell that I am not a Dykstra fan and nor will I be.
Concerned for the right vote..
Recycled energy is the "next big thing" that barely anyone knows about right now. I'm glad Dykstra's supporting this measure. The basic deal with energy recycling is you take heat that's usually vented into the atmosphere and use it to produce electricity and steam. If we did it all over the country, we'd cut greenhouse emissions by 20%. That's bigger than anything else on the table. Hopefully this bill can gain some momentum and put this issue more in the public eye.
ReplyDeleteElisa's right: SDCL 10-6-35.9 provides for a property tax credit for renewable energy systems for residential or commercial applications. You slap a solar panel on your house, you get a tax credit for the taxable value that the solar panel adds to your hosue for three years. Then, per SDCL 10-6-35.15, the credit declines: 75% credit in year 4, 50% credit in year 5, 25% credit in year 6, and then you're done. One sticking point: SDCL 10-6-35.10 says you don't get the tax credit if you sell the power you generate to anyone else. One key way that home renewable energy systems can pay for themselves is by allowing you to sell excess power back to the utility company. That's one reason I'd like to see Dykstra's legislation expanded to include residential installations.
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