Biomass and notice 2006-88.

• Author: Reinstein, Todd B.

As concerns for the nation's energy supply have risen, the Federal government has periodically provided various incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. Under Sec. 45, Congress provided for a renewable production credit for electricity produced by a taxpayer from qualified energy resources (wind, closed- and open-loop biomass, geothermal and solar energy, small irrigation power, municipal solid waste and hydropower) at a qualified facility. Sec. 45(a) provides that the credit for a tax year is 1.5 cents (adjusted for inflation) for each kilowatt hour of electricity produced and sold by the taxpayer from qualified energy resources at a qualified facility for a 10-year period beginning after the facility was placed in service.

Although not as well known as wind- or solar-powered energy sources, electricity generated from biomass facilities is considered one of the largest sources of renewable energy in the U.S. Biomass is the conversion of plant matter into electricity by incinerating the natural waste products from such matter. Open-loop biomass was added to the definition of qualified energy resources, and open-loop biomass facilities were added to the definition of qualified facilities, in Sec. 45 by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Section 710.

On Sept. 26, 2006, the IRS issued Notice 2006-88 to address a number of open issues on the application of Sec. 45 to open-loop biomass facilities. The notice includes much-needed guidance on key issues, such as co-firing, netting of electric output and placed-in-service dates.

Co-Firing

A major area of concern for taxpayers is how to treat open-loop biomass plants that co-fire qualifying biomass material and qualifying material. The profitability of an energy facility is generally related to the amount of heat embedded in the incinerated material. Biomass sources produce less heat than conventional fossil fuels; thus, many biomass facilities need to add non-biomass materials that generate more heat to raise the temperature of the incineration.

Prior to Notice 2006-88, it was unclear whether a facility that co-fired other material would still qualify for the credit. The notice clarifies that electricity produced from open-loop biomass, co-fired with fuels other than fossil fuels, may qualify separately for the credit (fossil fuels may, however, be used as part of the start-up or flame stabilization process). If a taxpayer produces and sells electricity from both open-loop...