Bill Text: HI HB1032 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Solar Water Heater Systems; Incentives

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [HB1032 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1032-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1032
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to Solar water heater systems.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in spite of decades of incentives to install solar water heater systems, such systems penetrate less than thirty per cent of the market.  Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, mandated that as of January 1, 2010, all new single-family homes constructed in the State contain solar water heater systems.  However, the existing housing inventory remains largely unaffected.  Equipping older homes with solar water heater systems provides those homes with effective sources of clean and renewable energy, and the legislature should continue to enact laws that will help make solar water heater systems part of all Hawaii residents' everyday reality.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase the amount of solar water heater systems in Hawaii's existing housing supply by:

     (1)  Providing a fifty per cent higher renewable energy technologies income tax credit to those who install solar water heater systems for single-family residential homes before the sale of those dwellings; and

     (2)  Mandating, with some exceptions, that those who renovate or make additions worth more than $50,000 to single-family residential homes also install solar water heater systems for their homes.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§235-    Additional tax credit; sellers of single-family residences  (a)  A solar water heater system installed pursuant to this section shall meet the:

     (1)  Solar energy system standards as defined by section 235-12.5; and

     (2)  Solar water heater system standards established pursuant to section 269-44.

     (b)  A taxpayer who installs a solar water heater system:

     (1)  For an existing single-family dwelling for which a solar water heater system was not previously installed; and

     (2)  Within one hundred eighty days before the taxpayer closes the sale of the dwelling to another person;

shall be eligible to claim a tax credit under 235-12.5 in an amount that is fifty per cent higher than the monetary amount the taxpayer otherwise would have been permitted to claim had the taxpayer not installed the system pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2)."

     SECTION 3.  Section 196-6.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§196-6.5  Solar water heater system required for [new] certain single-family residential construction[.] projects.  (a)  On or after January 1, 2010, no building permit shall be issued for a new single-family dwelling that does not include a solar water heater system that meets the standards established pursuant to section 269-44, unless the coordinator approves a variance.  A variance application shall only be accepted if submitted by an architect or mechanical engineer licensed under chapter 464, who attests that:

     (1)  Installation is impracticable due to poor solar resource;

     (2)  Installation is cost-prohibitive based upon a life cycle cost-benefit analysis that incorporates the average residential utility bill and the cost of the new solar water heater system with a life cycle that does not exceed fifteen years;

     (3)  A renewable energy technology system, as defined in section 235-12.5, is substituted for use as the primary energy source for heating water; or

     (4)  A demand water heater device approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., is installed; provided that at least one other gas appliance is installed in the dwelling.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "demand water heater" means a gas-tankless instantaneous water heater that provides hot water only as it is needed.

     (b)  After December 31, 2014, no building permit shall be issued for a renovation of or addition to an existing single-family dwelling that does not include a solar water heater system that meets the standards established pursuant to section 269-44, unless the coordinator approves a variance.  A variance application shall only be accepted if submitted by an architect or mechanical engineer licensed under chapter 464, who attests that:

     (1)  Circumstances exist as described in paragraph (1), (2), (3) , or (4) of subsection (a);

     (2)  The cost of the renovation or addition to the party seeking the permit will be $50,000 or less; or

     (3)  The primary purpose of the renovation or addition is to avoid condemnation or reasonably anticipated condemnation of the existing dwelling for safety reasons.

     [(b)] (c)  A request for a variance shall be submitted to the coordinator on an application prescribed by the coordinator and shall include a description of the location of the property and justification for the approval of a variance using the criteria established in subsection (a).  A variance shall be deemed approved if not denied within thirty working days after receipt of the variance application.  The coordinator shall publicize:

     (1)  All applications for a variance within seven days after receipt of the variance application; and

     (2)  The disposition of all applications for a variance within seven days of the determination of the variance application.

     [(c)] (d)  The director of business, economic development, and tourism may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to impose and collect fees to cover the costs of administering variances under this section.  The fees, if any, shall be deposited into the energy security special fund established under section 201-12.8.

     [(d)] (e)  Nothing in this section shall preclude any county from establishing procedures and standards required to implement this section.

     [(e)] (f)  Nothing in this section shall preclude participation in any utility demand-side management program or public benefits fee program under part VII of chapter 269."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Solar Water Heater Systems; Incentives

 

 

Description:

Provides a 50% higher renewable energy technologies income tax credit to those who install solar water heater systems prior to the sale of existing single-family residential dwellings.  Mandates the installation of solar water heater systems prior to certain renovations and additions.

 

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.