H.R. 1479 - Biomass Thermal Utilization (BTU) Act of 2019

116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION

H.R. 1479

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include
biomass heating appliances for tax credits available for energy-efficient
building property and energy property.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 28, 2019

Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Ms. KUSTER
of New Hampshire, and Ms. PINGREE) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include biomass heating appliances for tax credits available for energy-efficient building property and energy property.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2019" or the "BTU Act of 2019".

SEC. 2. RESIDENTIAL ENERGY-EFFICIENT PROPERTY CREDIT FOR BIOMASS FUEL PROPERTY EXPENDITURES.

(a) ALLOWANCE OF CREDIT. — Section 25D(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended —

(1) in paragraph (4), by striking "and" at the end;

(2) in paragraph (5), by adding "and" at the end; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:

"(6) the qualified biomass fuel property expenditures,".

(b) QUALIFIED BIOMASS FUEL PROPERTY EXPENDITURES. — Section 25D(d) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

"(6) QUALIFIED BIOMASS FUEL PROPERTY EXPENDITURE. —

"(A) IN GENERAL. — The term 'qualified biomass fuel property expenditure' means an expenditure for property —

"(i) which uses the burning of biomass fuel to heat a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, or to heat water for use in such a dwelling unit, and

"(ii) which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent (measured by the higher heating value of the fuel).

"(B) BIOMASS FUEL. — For purposes of this section, the term 'biomass fuel' means any plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood waste and residues, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, and fibers. Such term includes densified biomass fuels such as wood pellets.".

(c) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE. — Subsection (g) of section 25D of such Code is amended —

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and by moving such subparagraphs (as so redesignated) 2 ems to the right;

(2) by striking "For purposes of" and inserting the following:

"(1) IN GENERAL. — Except as provided under paragraph (2), for purposes of"; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

"(2) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE FOR QUALIFIED BIOMASS FUEL PROPERTY EXPENDITURES. — In the case of any qualified biomass fuel property expenditures made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, the applicable percentage shall be 30 percent.".

(d) TERMINATION. — Subsection (h) of section 25D of such Code is amended to read as follows:

"(h) TERMINATION. —

"(1) IN GENERAL. — Except as provided under paragraph (2), the credit allowed under this section shall not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2021.

"(2) APPLICATION TO QUALIFIED BIOMASS FUEL PROPERTY. — In the case of property described in subsection (d)(6), the credit allowed under this section shall not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2023.".

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE. — The amendments made by this section shall apply to expenditures paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018.

SEC. 3. INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FOR BIOMASS HEATING PROPERTY.

(a) IN GENERAL. — Section 48(a)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended —

(1) by striking "or" at the end of clause (vi);

(2) by adding "or" at the end of clause (vii); and

(3) and by inserting after clause (vii) the following new clause:

"(viii) open-loop biomass (within the meaning of section 45(c)(3)) heating property, including boilers or furnaces that operate at thermal output efficiencies of not less than 65 percent (measured by the higher heating value of the fuel) and that provide thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, or steam for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat,".

(b) 30 PERCENT AND 15 PERCENT CREDITS. —

(1) ENERGY PERCENTAGE. —

(A) IN GENERAL. — Section 48(a)(2)(A) of such Code is amended —

(i) by striking "and" at the end of clause (i)(IV);

(ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and

(iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following new clause:

"(ii) in the case of energy property described in paragraph (3)(A)(viii) the construction of which begins before January 1, 2024, 15 percent (30 percent in the case of any such property which operates at a thermal output efficiency of not less than 80 percent (measured by the higher heating value of the fuel)), and".

(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT. — Section 48(a)(2)(A)(iii) of such Code, as so redesignated, is amended by inserting "or (ii)" after "clause (i)".

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE. — The amendments made by this section shall apply to periods after December 31, 2018, in taxable years ending after such date, under rules similar to the rules of section 48(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990).