RCW 82.16.120 — Renewable energy system cost recovery — Application to light/power business — Certification — Limitations

(1)(a) Any individual, business, local governmental entity, not in the light and power business or in the gas distribution business, or a participant in a community solar project may apply to the light and power business serving the situs of the system, each fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2005, and ending June 30, 2017, for an investment cost recovery incentive for each kilowatt-hour from a customer-generated electricity renewable energy system. (b) In the case of a community solar project as defined in RCW 82.16.110 (2)(a)(i), the administrator must apply for the investment cost recovery incentive on behalf of each of the other owners. (c) In the case of a community solar project as defined in RCW 82.16.110 (2)(a)(iii), the company owning the community solar project must apply for the investment cost recovery incentive on behalf of each member of the company. (2)(a) Before submitting for the first time the application for the incentive allowed under subsection (4) of this section, the applicant must submit to the department of revenue and to the climate and rural energy development center at the Washington State University, established under RCW 28B.30.642 , a certification in a form and manner prescribed by the department that includes, but is not limited to, the information described in (c) of this subsection. (b) The department may not accept certifications submitted to the department under (a) of this subsection after September 30, 2017. (c) The certification must include: (i) The name and address of the applicant and location of the renewable energy system. (A) If the applicant is an administrator of a community solar project as defined in RCW 82.16.110 (2)(a)(i), the certification must also include the name and address of each of the owners of the community solar project. (B) If the applicant is a company that owns a community solar project as defined in RCW 82.16.110 (2)(a)(iii), the certification must also include the name and address of each member of the company; (ii) The applicant's tax registration number; (iii) That the electricity produced by the applicant meets the definition of "customer-generated electricity" and that the renewable energy system produces electricity with: (A) Any solar inverters and solar modules manufactured in Washington state; (B) A wind generator powered by blades manufactured in Washington state; (C) A solar inverter manufactured in Washington state; (D) A solar module manufactured in Washington state; (E) A stirling converter manufactured in Washington state; or (F) Solar or wind equipment manufactured outside of Washington state; (iv) That the electricity can be transformed or transmitted for entry into or operation in parallel with electricity transmission and distribution systems; and (v) The date that the renewable energy system received its final electrical inspection from the applicable local jurisdiction. (d) Within thirty days of receipt of the certification the department of revenue must notify the applicant by mail, or electronically as provided in RCW 82.32.135 , whether the renewable energy system qualifies for an incentive under this section. The department may consult with the climate and rural energy development center to determine eligibility for the incentive. System certifications and the information contained therein are not confidential tax information under RCW 82.32.330 and are subject to disclosure. (3)(a) By August 1st of each year through August 1, 2017, the application for the incentive must be made to the light and power business serving the situs of the system by certification in a form and manner prescribed by the department that includes, but is not limited to, the following information: (i) The name and address of the applicant and location of the renewable energy system. (A) If the applicant is an administrator of a community solar project as defined in RCW 82.16.110 (2)(a)(i), the application must also include the name and address of each of the owners of the community solar project. (B) If the applicant is a company that owns a community solar project as defined in RCW 82.16.110 (2)(a)(iii), the application must also include the name and address of each member of the company; (ii) The applicant's tax registration number; (iii) The date of the notification from the department of revenue stating that the renewable energy system is eligible for the incentives under this section; and (iv) A statement of the amount of kilowatt-hours generated by the renewable energy system in the prior fiscal year. (b) Within sixty days of receipt of the incentive certification the light and power business serving the situs of the system must notify the applicant in writing whether the incentive payment will be authorized or denied. The business may consult with the climate and rural energy development center to determine eligibility for the incentive payment. Incentive certifications and the information contained therein are not confidential tax information under RCW 82.32.330 and are subject to disclosure. (c)(i) Persons, administrators of community solar projects, and companies receiving incentive payments must keep and preserve, for a period of five years, suitable records as may be necessary to determine the amount of incentive applied for and received. Such records must be open for examination at any time upon notice by the light and power business that made the payment or by the department. If upon examination of any records or from other information obtained by the business or department it appears that an incentive has been paid in an amount that exceeds the correct amount of incentive payable, the business may assess against the person for the amount found to have been paid in excess of the correct amount of incentive payable and must add thereto interest on the amount. Interest is assessed in the manner that the department assesses interest upon delinquent tax under RCW 82.32.050 . (ii) If it appears that the amount of incentive paid is less than the correct amount of incentive payable the business may authorize additional payment. (4) Except for community solar projects, the investment cost recovery incentive may be paid fifteen cents per economic development kilowatt-hour unless requests exceed the amount authorized for credit to the participating light and power business. For community solar projects, the investment cost recovery incentive may be paid thirty cents per economic development kilowatt-hour unless requests exceed the amount authorized for credit to the participating light and power business. For the purposes of this section, the rate paid for the investment cost recovery incentive may be multiplied by the following factors: (a) For customer-generated electricity produced using solar modules manufactured in Washington state or a solar stirling converter manufactured in Washington state, two and four-tenths; (b) For customer-generated electricity produced using a solar or a wind generator equipped with an inverter manufactured in Washington state, one and two-tenths; (c) For customer-generated electricity produced using an anaerobic digester, or by other solar equipment or using a wind generator equipped with blades manufactured in Washington state, one; and (d) For all other customer-generated electricity produced by wind, eight-tenths. (5)(a) No individual, household, business, or local governmental entity is eligible for incentives provided under subsection (4) of this section for more than five thousand dollars per year. (b) Except as provided in (c) through (e) of this subsection (5), each applicant in a community solar project is eligible for up to five thousand dollars per year. (c) Where the applicant is an administrator of a community solar project as defined in RCW 82.16.110 (2)(a)(i), each owner is eligible for an incentive but only in proportion to the ownership share of the project, up to five thousand dollars per year. (d) Where the applicant is a company owning a community solar project that has applied for an investment cost recovery incentive on behalf of its members, each member of the company is eligible for an incentive that would otherwise belong to the company but only in proportion to each ownership share of the company, up to five thousand dollars per year. The company itself is not eligible for incentives under this section. (e) In the case of a utility-owned community solar project, each ratepayer that contributes to the project is eligible for an incentive in proportion to the contribution, up to five thousand dollars per year. (6) The climate and rural energy development center at Washington State University energy program may establish guidelines and standards for technologies that are identified as Washington manufactured and therefore most beneficial to the state's environment. (7) The environmental attributes of the renewable energy system belong to the applicant, and do not transfer to the state or the light and power business upon receipt of the investment cost recovery incentive. (8) No incentive may be paid under this section for kilowatt-hours generated before July 1, 2005, or after June 30, 2017, except as provided in subsections (10) through (12) of this section. (9) Beginning October 1, 2017, program management, technical review, and tracking responsibilities of the department under this section are transferred to the Washington State University extension energy program. At the earliest date practicable and no later than September 30, 2017, the department must transfer all records necessary for the administration of the remaining incentive payments due under this section to the Washington State University extension energy program. (10) Participants in the renewable energy investment cost recovery program under this section will continue to receive payments for electricity produced through June 30, 2020, at the same rates their utility paid to participants for electricity produced between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016. (11) In order to continue to receive the incentive payment allowed under subsection (4) of this section, a person or community solar project administrator who has, by September 30, 2017, submitted a complete certification to the department under subsection (2) of this section must apply to the Washington State University extension energy program by April 30, 2018, for a certification authorizing the utility serving the situs of the renewable energy system to annually remit the incentive payment allowed under subsection (4) of this section for each kilowatt-hour generated by the renewable energy system through June 30, 2020. (12)(a) The Washington State University extension energy program must establish an application process and form by which to collect the system operation data described in RCW 82.16.165 (7)(a)(iii) from each person or community solar project administrator applying for a certification under subsection (11) of this section. The Washington State University extension energy program must notify any applicant that providing this data is a condition of certification and that any certification issued pursuant to this section is void as of June 30, 2018, if the applicant has failed to provide the data by that date. (b) Beginning July 1, 2018, the Washington State University extension energy program must, in a form and manner that is consistent with the roles and processes established under RCW 82.16.165 (19) and (20), calculate for the year and provide to the utility the amount of the incentive payment due to each participant under subsection (11) of this section. [ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 36 s 3 ; 2011 c 179 s 3 . Prior: 2010 c 202 s 2 ; 2010 c 106 s 103 ; 2009 c 469 s 505 ; 2007 c 111 s 101 ; 2005 c 300 s 3 .] Notes: Findings — Intent — Effective date — 2017 3rd sp.s. c 36: See notes following RCW 82.16.130 . Effective date — 2010 c 106: See note following RCW 35.102.145 . Effective date — 2009 c 469: See note following RCW 82.08.962 . Part headings not law — 2007 c 111: "Part headings used in this act are not any part of the law." [ 2007 c 111 s 401 .] Findings — Intent — Effective date — 2005 c 300: See notes following RCW 82.16.110 .