Idaho lawmakers review solar energy incentive proposal

Officials with Idaho’s solar energy industry say they want to pay taxes on the energy they produce, not property taxes – a system that already applies to other renewable energy developers, the AP reports. The Solar Energy Task Force, a legislative interim panel, met Monday to hear input from solar energy developers and tax officials to discuss possible legislation for the 2016 Idaho Legislature.

The proposed legislation would require solar energy developers to pay a 3 percent tax on the production of electricity rather than pay property taxes to their local taxing districts. The industry says the change would result in more money for municipalities over time. A similar proposal introduced to lawmakers this year failed to make it out of committee; you can read a full report here from AP reporter Kimberlee Kruesi.