Renewable energy hosts/tax

AN ACT Relating to encouraging local support of communities that 1
host renewable energy through changes in tax policy; adding a new 2
chapter to Title 82 RCW; and declaring an emergency.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislative authority of any 5
county may submit an authorizing proposition to the voters at a 6
special or general election and, if the proposition is approved by a 7
majority of the persons voting, may impose an excise tax on the 8
nameplate capacity of industrial-scale renewable energy facilities 9
sited within the county subject to the restrictions of this section. 10
The title of each ballot measure must clearly state the purposes for 11
which the proposed tax may be used.12
(2) The rate of the tax may not exceed the following rates 13
adjusted annually for inflation beginning January 1, 2026, based upon 14
changes in the consumer price index for the most recent 12-month 15
period available as of December 1st of the current calendar year:16
(a)(i) For solar energy production facilities operational on or 17
before December 31, 2026, $4,000 per megawatt; and18
(ii) For solar energy production facilities operational on or 19
after January 1, 2027, $4,500 per megawatt. 20
H-1405.1
HOUSE BILL 1994
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Klicker and Dye
Read first time 02/18/25. Referred to Committee on Finance.
p. 1 HB 1994
(b)(i) For wind energy production facilities operational on or 1
before December 31, 2004, $800 per megawatt; 2
(ii) For wind energy production facilities operational between 3
January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2019, $2,900 per megawatt;4
(iii) For wind energy production facilities operational between 5
January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2026, $6,000 per megawatt; and6
(iv) For wind energy production facilities operational on or 7
after January 1, 2027, $6,300 per megawatt. 8
(c) For battery energy storage facilities, $1,500 per megawatt 9
hour. 10
(3) The tax imposed under this section expires no later than 30 11
years after the date the tax was first imposed, at the discretion of 12
the county and submitted as part of the authorizing proposition and 13
must be resubmitted to the voters for continuation.14
(4) For purposes of this section, the following definitions 15
apply: 16
(a) "Consumer price index" means the consumer price index for all 17
urban consumers, all items, for the Seattle area as calculated by the 18
United States bureau of labor statistics. 19
(b) "Industrial-scale renewable energy facility" means a wind 20
energy production facility, solar energy production facility, battery 21
energy storage facility, or any combination of the listed facilities 22
that are sited on the same siting application and has a nameplate 23
capacity of 50 megawatts or more. 24
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Section 1 of this act constitutes a new 25
chapter in Title 82 RCW.26
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate 27
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 28
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 29
effect immediately.30
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p. 2 HB 1994