Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn when he signed H.B. 6038 in August extended through 2016 the Affordable Housing Tax Credit program, which leverages private investment in affordable housing development. A 50 percent state income tax credit is available through the program for donations to not-for-profit affordable housing sponsors. Donations may be used to offset costs associated with purchasing, rehabilitating, constructing, financing or providing technical assistance or operating support for an approved affordable housing project. To claim the credit, the aggregate amount of donations must be at least $10,000. More details are available on the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s web site at www.ihda.org.

Legislation to streamline the siting process for wind energy projects passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives in July by a vote of 101 to 52. North American Windpower says the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act will make it easier for developers and local authorities to incorporate wind power initiatives into plans to meet the state’s renewable energy goals. At press time, the bill was under discussion in a House-Senate conference committee.

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Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation to extend property tax relief for wind farms in Illinois and give local governments the authority to finance renewable energy projects in unincorporated areas of the state. H.B. 4797 keeps wind farms’ property tax assessments uniform by extending a sunset provision of the property tax code through 2016, giving the industry the ability to anticipate operating costs. Without the provision, property taxes on wind farms would be based on location. Another bill, H.B. 4758, expands on an existing law to offer Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to more Illinois residents and businesses that want to make green improvements to their property. Under Illinois’ renewable portfolio standard, utilities must supply at least 25 percent of their power from renewable energy resources by 2025.

Gov. Jay Nixon created a tax credit review commission in July to examine Missouri’s 61 tax credit programs. He named 25 business, community and legislative leaders to serve on the commission co-chaired by Steve Stogel and Chuck Gross. Stogel is the president of DFC Group in St. Louis and Gross is the director of administration for St. Charles County. The Coalition for Historic Preservation and Economic Development subsequently criticized the commission as lacking sufficient representation from organizations familiar with the state historic tax credit’s benefits, calling it Nixon’s second attempt this year to pit education against development. The commission’s members, hailing from the development, education, finance and labor communities, are charged with analyzing the efficacy and return on investment for each program and recommending appropriate modifications.

Puerto Rico Gov. Luis G. Fortuno signed legislation in July that sets specific renewable energy production goals and creates economic incentives to meet them. Collectively, the bills establish a renewable portfolio standard of 15 percent renewable energy production by 2020 and require retail energy providers to prepare a plan to reach 20 percent by 2028. In addition, the government of Puerto Rico will co-invest $290 million in renewable energy projects during the next 10 years through a green energy fund (GEF) administered by the Treasury. The GEF will fund cash rebates of as much as 60 percent for individuals and 50 percent for companies installing projects not exceeding 1 megawatt in capacity. Tax benefits will include partial exemptions from income taxes, property taxes and municipal taxes; super-depreciation of structures, machinery and equipment; and tax credits for using locally-manufactured products, creating jobs and contributing to research and development.

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