HB 5218 was introduced by Representative Kathleen Law in September 2007. UPDATE: The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Technology in September 2007, but did not see any additional action. The bill expired with the end of the legislative session.

A bill known as the Renewable Energy Sources Act would create a renewable energy payment program that would guarantee a return on investments in renewable energy projects in Michigan for at least 20 years. The act would guarantee long-term, fixed prices for electricity generated from renewable sources sold into the power grid.

(read more...)

These bills would amend the 1994 PA 451 (Natural resources and environmental protection act). UPDATE: SB 1521 and HB 6533 were referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental affairs and the House Committee on Great Lakes and Environment respectively, but never saw any further movement. Both expired with the end of the legislative session.

Two identical bills were introduced recently into the House and Senate which would finance the renewable energy fund that could be created by SB 1585. The bills would also discourage drilling for oil or natural gas beneath the Great Lakes.

Under the bills, the Department of Natural Resources would be able to enter into contracts for the taking of coal, oil, natural gas, and other mineral products from under state owned lands. The Department would receive a royalty or other form of compensation.

The bills stipulate that under a contract for oil or natural gas discovered under state land, the state would receive at least a 1/6 royalty interest and at least 1/3 of all profits or product produced. These funds would then be deposited into the Treasury Department's renewable energy fund.

Additionally, the bills look to reduce the drilling in the Great Lakes by prohibiting the DNR from entering into contracts that would result in drilling operations beneath the lake bottomlands of the Great Lakes, the connected bays or harbors, or connecting waterways. (read more...)

This bill would create a new act. It is tie barred to the passage of SB 1521 or HB 6533. UPDATE: SB 1585 was referred to the Senate Energy Policy and Public Utilities Committee on November 5, 2008, but never saw any additional action. The bill expired with the end of the legislative session.

A bill was recently introduced into the Senate which seeks to create a "renewable energy fund" that would provide grants for research into and development of renewable energy.

The fund would be administered and dispersed by the Michigan Department of Treasury. All funds expended would be in the form of grants designated to further research into and development of renewable energy. Money would remain in the fund at the close of the fiscal year and would not relapse into the general fund.

The bill would receive it's funding from SB 1521 or HB 6533, to which it is tie-barred. Those bills, which read the same, allow the Department of Natural Resources to enter into contracts to allow for the exploration of state land for oil and natural gas. At least 1/3 of all profits resultant from such a contract would be deposited into the renewable energy fund. In addition, the state would have at least a 1/6 royalty interest in any such contract, which would also be deposited in the fund. Additional money could be received from any other source as well. (read more...)

SB 1048 is an amendment to PA 281 (Income tax act of 1967). The bill was passed along with SB 213’07 and HB 5524’07, to which it was tie barred.

SB 1048 allows a taxpayer to claim income tax credits when purchasing qualified home improvements for their principal residence. Qualified home improvements are defined as one of the following items which meet both the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star efficiency guidelines and are intended for residential or non-commercial use:

• Insulation
• Furnaces
• Water heaters
• Windows
• Refrigerators
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers

A single taxpayer with an adjusted gross income equal to or less than $37,500.00 or a married couple filing a joint return with an adjusted gross income equal to or less than $75,000.00 can claim an income tax credit worth 10% of the amount paid by the taxpayer in the tax year for the purchase and installation of qualified home improvements. There is a maximum of $75.00 and $150.00 which can be claimed by a single tax filer and joint filers respectively for a single tax year. Only one credit can be claimed for each category of qualified improvements per tax year. (read more...)

If the credit a taxpayer would receive would amount to greater than their income tax liability for that year, then the portion of the credit which would exceed the liability would be refunded.

This tax credit program is in effect from December 31, 2008 until January 1, 2012.

Read the bill: SB 1048