"Green Building" Senate Bill 91 Pending in Louisiana Legislature
On August 3, 2009
By Scott Wolfe Jr
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A May 2009 press release from Louisiana Senator Neil Gautreaux’s office explains that the proposal of Senate Bill 91 gained unanimous support after a group of fifth graders testified on behalf of the legislation and urged state legislators to “go green.”
While still pending in Baton Rouge and not yet on its way to the governor’s desk, the “green building” bill is one of the more aggressive green building tax credits proposed in the nation.
Senator Gauthreaux’s office sells the bill in their press release with the following:
This tax credit, combined with the federal tax credits, will make our state a leader in incentives for the promotion of alternative energy…Besides promoting the adoption of resources that generate safe, efficient and clean energy, the tax incentives will also be a boon to economic development by creating new “green jobs.”
Summary of Senate Bill 91
Summary: Grants a transferable tax credit until January 1, 2013 for income and franchise franchise taxes of 25% of the costs and expenses attributable to the construction or for the installation of certain qualified energy systems on and after January 1, 2009 limited to $450,000 per system.
Status: Pending in Conference Committee
Qualifying Energy Systems: Wind, Solar Energy, Small irrigation power, Open-lop and closed-loop biomass, geothermal energy, and more.
Read the full text of Senate Bill 91.
This article was originally posted on Wolfe Law Group’s topic-specific Louisiana Green Building Law Blog.
About the Author: Scott Wolfe Jr
Scott Wolfe, Jr. obtained his J.D. degree from Loyola University of New Orleans, and his B.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, Scott was recognized as a Leader in Law by CityBusiness Magazine. The son and grandson of general contractors, Scott is a construction litigator in the Pacific Northwest, and the founding member of the bi-coastal law firm, Wolfe Law Group. Scott is also the founder and CEO of Express Lien, Inc., a legal document preparation service for contractors. In 2008, City Business Magazine recognized Scott as one of its Innovators of the Year for the Express Lien concept. As an entrepreneur himself, Scott has a strong background in business and commercial transactions and laws. He focuses his practice on the legal issues facing the construction industry, and has represented clients in multi-million dollar construction disputes in litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Scott is a LEED AP.
Can you tell me if Bill 91 is dead or if it might come up for a vote at another time?
Hi Linda – Thanks for the comment. Right now, unfortunately, I don’t have any information about whether it will come up for a vote soon or some other time. I also don’t have any information that the Bill is dead (yet).
On the Louisiana legislature page, it is still reporting to be “Pending in Conference Committee.” http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/byinst.asp?sessionid=09RS&billid=SB91. We’ll see soon.