Property tax break for alternative energy improvements

(a) The value of all improvements in the County (not including a building or its structural components, except where alternate energy improvements are incorporated into the building, and then only that part of the building necessary to such improvement) actually used for an alternate energy improvement shall be exempted from the measure of the taxes imposed by this article. (b) As used in this section “alternate energy improvement” means any construction or addition, alteration, modification, improvement, or repair work undertaken upon or made to any building which results in: (1) The production of energy from a source, or uses a process which does not use fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, or geothermal source. Such energy source may include, but shall not be limited to, solid wastes, wind, solar, or ocean waves, tides, or currents. (2) An increased level of efficiency in the utilization of energy produced by fossil fuels or in the utilization of secondary forms of energy dependent upon fossil fuels for its generation. (c) Alternate energy production or energy by-products transferred, marketed, or sold on a commercial basis shall not qualify for exemption under the provisions of this section. Provided further, that alternate energy improvements used primarily for personal consumption and producing excess energy incidental to personal consumption may transfer, market, or sell such excess energy produced and continue to qualify for the exemption as provided for by the provisions of this section; however, the transfer, marketing, or sale shall be limited to less than twenty-five percent of the total energy output produced by such improvements. Nuclear fission and geothermal energy sources shall be excluded from the provisions of this section. (d) Application for the exemption provided by this section shall be made with the director of finance on or before December 31, preceding the tax year for which the exemption is claimed, except that no claim need be filed for the exemption of solar water collections, heaters, heat pumps and similar devices. The director of finance may require the taxpayer to furnish reasonable information in order that the director may ascertain the validity of the claim for exemption made under this section and may adopt rules and regulations to implement this section.