TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Bob Smith which would exempt renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, from local property taxes was unanimously approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.
“Renewable energy is our best chance to fight global warming and to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “We need to do everything we can to make sure that renewable energy systems are affordable for families and businesses and promote green technology.”
The bill, a Senate Committee substitute for S-241, S-394, S-710 and S-1098, would exempt any renewable energy system that has been certified by local regulators from local property taxes. The bill would define renewable energy as energy produced by solar technology, photovoltaic technology, wind energy, fuel cells, geothermal technology, wave or tidal action, methane gas from an on-site landfill, or hydropower. The bill would allow property owners to exempt any improvements on their property designed to accommodate certified renewable energy systems as long as the system is in use.
The bill would also exempt property owners seeking construction permits for renewable energy systems from any municipal construction permit fees.
“New Jersey has become a national leader in combating global warming and putting an emphasis on renewable energy,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “This bill continues our track record of supporting homeowners in environmentally-conscious home energy choices. When property owners make the decision to go green, State government should do everything it can to encourage them.”
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Identical legislation is pending review in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
