Sec. 490.352. FRANCHISE TAX CREDIT FOR CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT

(a) The comptroller shall adopt rules for issuing to an entity implementing a clean energy project in this state a franchise tax credit. A clean energy project is eligible for a franchise tax credit only if the project is implemented in connection with the construction of a new facility.

(b) The comptroller shall issue a franchise tax credit to an entity operating a clean energy project after:

(1) the Railroad Commission of Texas has issued a certificate of compliance for the project to the entity as provided by Section 120.004, Natural Resources Code;

(2) the construction of the project has been completed;

(3) the electric generating facility associated with the project is fully operational;

(4) the Bureau of Economic Geology of The University of Texas at Austin verifies to the comptroller that the electric generating facility associated with the project is sequestering at least 70 percent of the carbon dioxide resulting from or associated with the generation of electricity by the facility; and

(5) the owner or operator of the project has entered into an interconnection agreement relating to the project with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

(c) The total amount of the franchise tax credit that may be issued to the entity designated in the certificate of compliance for a clean energy project is equal to the lesser of:

(1) 10 percent of the total capital cost of the project, including the cost of designing, engineering, permitting, constructing, and commissioning the project, the cost of procuring land, water, and equipment for the project, and all fees, taxes, and commissions paid and other payments made in connection with the project but excluding the cost of financing the capital cost of the project; or

(2) $100 million.

(d) The amount of the franchise tax credit for each report year is calculated by determining the amount of franchise tax that is due based on the taxable margin generated by a clean energy project from the generation and sale of power and the sale of any products that are produced by the electric generation facility. The amount of the franchise tax credit claimed under this section for a report year may not exceed the amount of franchise tax attributable to the clean energy project for that report year.

(e) The comptroller may not issue a franchise tax credit under this section before September 1, 2013. This subsection expires September 2, 2013.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1109 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.