BROWN AND SENATE REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY RELIEF ON GREEN ACT
Calls for multiple incentives to promote energy savings and efficiencies
BOSTON, MA – During the recent Senate debate on renewable energy, State Senator Scott Brown and the Senate Republican Caucus offered several amendments to assist ratepayers and municipalities as they cope with spiraling energy costs.
The Caucus sought to amend The Act to Generate Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now – also known as the GREEN Act – a comprehensive energy bill that makes changes to the 1997 electric deregulation law.
Assistant Minority Whip Scott Brown emphasized the importance of providing “tax incentives to consumers to make basic changes” in order for the bill to work. One such incentive, offered by Minority Whip Robert Hedlund, called for a reduction in the per-gallon tax on fuel that blends gasoline with ethanol (or other so-called “cellulosic biofuels”) until the year 2028.
The Caucus secured roll calls on the following amendments (voting results are indicated in parentheses):
- HOME HEATING DEDUCTION – Offered by Senator Michael Knapik, the ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, this amendment would allow taxpayers to deduct up to $800 on their state income taxes for eligible heating fuel costs incurred between November 21, 2007 and March 21, 2008. Individuals with income of less than $50,000 and families with income up to $75,000 would be eligible for relief. (7 YES, 31 NO)
- ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES – Offered by Senator Tarr, this amendment would provide a sales tax exemption for purchases of alternative fuel vehicles that meet certain fuel mileage ratings, fuel efficiency standards and other criteria. The exemption would provide savings to consumers while offering them an incentive to drive a low-emission hybrid vehicle. (5 YES, 33 NO)
- STATE/MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP – Offered by Senator Tisei, this amendment provides an incentive for cities and towns to develop plans to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent over a 5-year period. Subject to appropriation, communities that adopt such a plan and experience a one-year increase in energy costs of greater than 10 percent would be eligible for a state grant to cover half the cost of the increase for that year. (5 YES, 33 NO)
- MUNICIPAL FUEL RELIEF – Offered by Assistant Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, this amendment would exempt police cruisers, fire engines, public works trucks and other city or town-owned vehicles from the state’s 21 cents a gallon fuel excise tax. This exemption would save cities and towns an estimated $6.6 million to $9.8 million annually. (8 YES, 30 NO)
- CONSUMER SURCHARGE SUNSET – Offered by Senator Tisei, this amendment would retain the original deregulation law’s provisions sunsetting the mandatory surcharge of $0.0025 per kilowatt-hour paid by electricity consumers not serviced by a municipal light plant on December 31, 2012. The GREEN Act extends the surcharge indefinitely, while adding an additional surcharge for gas customers, which this amendment repeals. (7 YES, 30 NO)
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