A May 2009 press release from Louisiana Senator Neil Gautreaux’s office explains that the proposal of Senate Bill 91 gained unanimous support after a group of fifth graders testified on behalf of the legislation and urged state legislators to “go green.”

While still pending in Baton Rouge and not yet on its way to the governor’s desk, the “green building” bill is one of the more aggressive green building tax credits proposed in the nation.

Senator Gauthreaux’s office sells the bill in their press release with the following:

This tax credit, combined with the federal tax credits, will make our state a leader in incentives for the promotion of alternative energy…Besides promoting the adoption of resources that generate safe, efficient and clean energy, the tax incentives will also be a boon to economic development by creating new “green jobs.”

Summary of Senate Bill 91

Summary:  Grants a transferable tax credit until January 1, 2013 for income and franchise franchise taxes of 25% of the costs and expenses attributable to the construction or for the installation of certain qualified energy systems on and after January 1, 2009 limited to $450,000 per system.

Status:  Pending in Conference Committee

Qualifying Energy Systems:  Wind, Solar Energy, Small irrigation power, Open-lop and closed-loop biomass, geothermal energy, and more.

Read the full text of Senate Bill 91.