HB 951

This bill enacts the "Clean Energy and Jobs Act, "" as described below. CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE TRAINING FUND – GRANTS Thi s bill create s in the state treasury the clean energy workforce training fund, to be administered by the department of environment and conservation's office of energy programs ("" office "") . The fund consists of moneys appropriated to the fund by the general assembly. Funds appropriated to the fund must only be used to provide grants to clean energy workforce training projects, as described in this bill . In addition to appropriations made to the fund, this bill authorizes the department to accept other fund s, public or private, by way of gift or grant to the fund. Any such gift or grant must be deposited into the fund to be distributed in accordance with this bill . This bill requires the office to utilize the fund to provide grants to support the developm ent, implementation, and operation of clean energy workforce training programs. As used in this provision, ""clean energy"" means energy that is derived from a source known to produce significantly lower carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuels and i n cludes energy generated from solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass . The office must develop eligibility criteria by rule, and create an application with which an individual or entity may request funding. All grant recipients are subject to aud it by the comptroller of the treasury as to the funds received pursuant to this bill . TAX CREDIT This bill creates a tax credit of 30% of the sales and use tax paid with respect to each of the following :  A system, method, improvement, structure, device, or appliance primarily used by a renewable energy business to develop, manufacture, install, or maintain a good or system that generates electricity or heat from renewable sources of energy . As used in this provision, a "" r enewable energy business"" (i) means a business entity for which the primary activity or sources of revenue involve the development, manufacture, installation, or maintenance of goods that generate electricity or heat from renewable sources of energy, including sunlight, wind, water, geothermal heat, or biomass and (ii) i ncludes solar panel installation companies, wind farm developers, and hydroelectric power plant operators .  A system, method, improvement, structure, device, or appliance primarily used by a business entity, including its affiliates, that employs 5 0 or fewer full-time employees to implement or improve the business's sustainable practices. As used in this provision, "" s ustainable practices"" (i) m eans a business practice the primary goal of which is to minimize the environmental impact of the business by reducing waste produced by the business, conserving resources, or reducing the amount of pollution produced by the business; and (ii) includes practices such as integrating eco-friendly material into the production or manufacturing process of a good, or recycling a material used in the production or manufacturing process of a good, utilizing biodegradable packaging. This bill requires the department of revenue to promulgate rules to effectuate such tax credit."