OLYMPIA…The House today unanimously approved two bills encouraging the manufacture and production of solar energy in Washington state. The bills were a bipartisan effort by Sen. Erik Poulsen, D-West Seattle, chair of the Senate Water, Energy & Environment Committee, and Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient, ranking member of the committee.

Poulsen’s legislation, Senate Bill 5101, establishes a $2,000 incentive for individuals, businesses or local governments to invest in renewable power generation. Small-scale windmill, solar panel and other alternative energy projects are beginning to spring up around the state. During renovation of the Legislative Building in Olympia, for example, solar panels were installed to charge batteries used to light the Capitol dome at night.

            “These bills are great examples of economics and the environment working hand-in-hand,” said Poulsen. “If we make the right kinds of investments in renewable power generation, we can develop new technologies and create whole new industries while improving our environment.”

            Morton’s proposal, Senate Bill 5111, provides a variety of tax incentives to support and boost the solar panel production industry in Washington state, which includes:

• a sales tax exemption for construction of new buildings;
• a use tax exemption on personal property used in the project;
• a business and occupation tax job credit of $3,000 per full-time manufacturing production job; and
• a property tax exemption on machinery and equipment used in manufacturing.

            “These bills come at a time when Washington must diversify its energy generation,” Morton said. “As we deal with drought, Washington is still 52 percent reliant on hydropower. Incentives to diversify would help us overcome that reliance, along with keeping and creating manufacturing-wage jobs in our state.”

            Washington already boasts a $150 million solar energy manufacturing industry.

            Both bills now go back to the Senate for consideration of changes made to the bills in the House. 

-30-

For more information contact Tami Davis (360) 786-7519 or davis.tami@leg.wa.gov  or Jason Kelly (360) 786-5699 or kelly.jason@leg.wa.gov