Amendment #11, as changed to H4912

Property Tax Exemptions for Solar and Wind Systems

Mr. Roy of Franklin moves to amend the bill, as amended, by inserting after section 15F the following new section:-

SECTION 15G. Section 5 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clause Forty-fifth and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-

Forty-fifth, Any solar or wind powered system that is capable of producing not more than 125 per cent of the annual energy needs of the residential real property upon which it is located.

Any other solar or wind powered system capable of producing energy shall be taxable unless the owner has executed an agreement for a payment in lieu of taxes with the city or town where the system is located. The chief executive officer, as defined in section 7 of chapter 4, of a city or town may execute any such agreement for a payment in lieu of taxes with the owner of a solar or wind powered system in the municipality where the solar or wind powered system is located.

Unless otherwise provided by such agreement, (1) a notice of the payment in lieu of taxes owed for each fiscal year shall be mailed to the owner and due on the dates by which a tax assessed under this chapter would be payable without interest; (2) all provisions of law regarding billing and collecting a tax assessed under this chapter shall apply to the payment in lieu of taxes, including the payment of interest; and (3) upon issuance of the notice, the owner shall have the remedies provided by section 59 and section 64 and all other applicable provisions of law for the abatement and appeal of taxes upon real estate.

Any exemption pursuant to  this clause shall be allowed for a period of not more than 20 years from the date of installation of the system; provided, however, that no exemption shall be allowed for any year within that period where the solar or wind powered system is not capable of producing energy as required by this clause. Each owner shall annually, on or before March 1, make a declaration under oath to the assessors regarding the system and power generated for the previous calendar year. This clause shall not apply to projects developed pursuant to section 1A of chapter 164.

And further moves to amend the bill, as amended, by adding the following sections:-

SECTION 25. Clause Forty-fifth of section 5 of chapter 59 of the General Laws shall not apply to solar and wind powered systems for which the owner has a signed agreement with the city or town to make a payment in lieu of taxes under subsection (b) of section 38H of chapter 59 as of the effective date of this act.

SECTION 26. Section 15G shall apply to taxes assessed for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2021.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #11, as changed to H4912

Property Tax Exemptions for Solar and Wind Systems