Provides credit under corporation business tax and gross income tax for construction of buildings in accordance with certain energy and environmental performance standards.
The legislation is designed to encourage 'green' building practices, which can significantly reduce waste and environmental impact, promoting more sustainable construction methods. By facilitating the construction of certified green buildings, the bill aims to enhance the energy efficiency of the state's infrastructure and contribute to broader environmental goals. It requires that a percentage of the tax credit must also be based on the overall size of the building and the certification level achieved, thus directly linking the credit value to the project's adherence to sustainability standards.
Assembly Bill A3420 aims to provide tax credits under the corporation business tax and gross income tax for the construction of certain buildings that adhere to specified energy and environmental performance standards. The bill categorizes eligible buildings as those meeting at least silver, gold, or platinum certification levels according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System. It also outlines that taxpayers can apply these credits based on the costs incurred during construction, with a total funding pool of $10 million allocated for these tax incentives.
While supporters of A3420 posit that the proposed financial incentives for green building will foster economic growth in the clean energy sector and address environmental issues, critics could argue that focusing on tax credits may not be sufficient to ensure compliance and performance standards are met. Additionally, there are concerns about the distribution of credits, as the first-come, first-served allocation process might disadvantage smaller projects or developers with fewer resources, potentially creating inequities in access to these benefits.