North Dakota
Governor John Hoeven signed several bills into law on Earth Day to accelerate
wind power, hydrogen, and alternative fuel technologies in the state. The
wind energy provisions reduce the siting application fees, lessen the regulatory
burden for siting wind plants, allow the sale of renewable energy credits
to other states, and promote new investments in transmission lines. A pending
bill will also cut in half the assessed value of a wind plant for tax purposes.
One bill also creates a sales tax exemption on hydrogen used to power either
an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell.
Several bills relate to ethanol
and biodiesel production. The ethanol-related bills provide $3.25 million
in incentives for new and existing ethanol plants in the state, $1.35 million
in incentives to expand existing ethanol plants, and a 20-cent-per-gallon
tax incentive for retail sales of E85 (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and
15 percent gasoline), an incentive that must be passed on to the consumer.
The biodiesel provisions include $1.2 million to buy down interest on new
biodiesel production plants, income tax credits for fuel suppliers and
retailers, and a sales tax exemption for equipment that allows a facility
to sell biodiesel blends. New ethanol and biodiesel production plants will
also earn a 30 percent investment tax credit.
In addition, the new legislation
creates an Office of Renewable Energy within the Division of Community
Services at the North Dakota Commerce Department. The new office will assist
in the development of renewable energy within the state and promote the
conservation of energy and the wise use of energy resources in both the
public and private sectors.
See
the governor's press release.
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