Solar Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that solar energy property need not be located on the property with respect to which it is generating electricity in order to qualify for the residential energy efficient property credit.
Sec. 2 Clarification with respect to location of solar electric property
“(2) Qualified solar electric property expenditure
“(A) In general—The term qualified solar electric property expenditure means an expenditure for property which uses solar energy to generate electricity—
“(i) for use in a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, or
“(ii) which enters the electrical grid at any point which is not more than 50 miles from the point at which such a dwelling unit used as a residence by the taxpayer is connected to such grid, but only if such property is not used in a trade or business of the taxpayer or in an activity with respect to which a deduction is allowed to the taxpayer under section 162 or paragraph (1) or (2) of section 212.
“(B) Recapture—The Secretary may provide for the recapture of the credit under this subsection with respect to any property described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) which ceases to satisfy the requirements of such clause.”
“(3) Maximum credit for off-site solar property—In the case of any qualified solar electric property expenditure which is such an expenditure by reason of clause (ii) of subsection (d)(2)(A), the credit allowed under subsection (a) (determined without regard to subsection (c)) for any taxable year with respect to all such expenditures shall not exceed $50,000.”
Sec. 3 Clarification with respect to location of solar water heating property
“(A) In general—The term”
“(B) Off-site property
“(i) In general—Such term shall include an expenditure for property described in subparagraph (A) notwithstanding—
“(I) whether such property is located on the same site as the dwelling unit for which the energy generated from such property is used, and
“(II) whether the energy generated by such property displaces the energy used to heat the water load or space heating load for the dwelling, so long as any such displacement from such property occurs not more than 50 miles from such dwelling unit,
“(ii) Recapture—The Secretary may provide for the recapture of the credit under this subsection with respect to any property described in clause (i) which ceases to satisfy the requirements of such clause.”
“(3) Maximum credit for off-site solar property—In the case of—
“(A) any qualified solar electric property expenditure which is such an expenditure by reason of clause (ii) of subsection (d)(2)(A), and
“(B) any qualified solar water heating property expenditure which is such an expenditure by reason of subparagraph (B) of subsection (d)(1),”
Sec. 4 Exclusion of income from qualifying sales
“139E. Income from qualifying sales of solar electricity
“For any taxable year, gross income of any person shall not include any gain from the sale or exchange to the electrical grid during such taxable year of electricity which is generated by property with respect to which any qualified solar electric property expenditures are eligible to be taken into account under section 25D, but only to the extent such gain does not exceed the value of the electricity used at such residence during such taxable year.”