Green/Sustainable Housing

Earlier this month Representative Bob Filner (D-Calif.) introduce the Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2012 (HR 6275). This legislation addresses a number of renewable energy programs and initiatives. Highlights of interest to NH&RA members include and extension of various expiring energy investment credits through 2023.

On June 29, the U.S. House of Representatives approved its fiscal year (FY) 2013 appropriations bill (HR. 5972) for the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, or T-HUD. The approved bill funds HUD programs at around $33.6 billion, which is about $1.36 billion (3.9 percent) below the Senate Appropriations Committee proposed FY 2013 amount, $1.75 billion (4.9 percent) below the President’s FY 2013 request, and $3.8 billion (10.2 percent) below the FY 2012 enacted level. The FY 2013 appropriations bill (HR. 5973) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture including rural housing programs administered by Rural Development is expected to be considered by the full House within the next week. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of both bills (S. 2322, S. 2375) in April but the full Senate has not yet scheduled floor consideration of the bill.

The Senate Finance Committee recently held a markup hearing to discuss the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012 which includes more than $205 billion in tax cut extensions for families and businesses. The bill, which passed the Committee by a margin of 19 to 5, would extend the new markets tax credit (NMTC) program for two years, through 2013, permitting up to $3.5 billion in qualified equity investments for each of calendar years 2012 and 2013.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released notice REG-136491-09 which proposes to amend LIHTC utility allowance regulations.

NH&RA is pleased to offer the Power Point presentations, relevant articles, reports, memos, etc. from our recent 2012 Summer Institute and New Markets Tax Credit Symposium, which was held July 25-28, 2012 at the Harbor View Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Congress recently reauthorized federal surface transportation programs in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) legislation (H.R.4348). In addition to other transportation-related funding, the now Public Law (PL) No: 112-141 also includes funding for a new transit-oriented development (TOD) pilot program to provide grant funding for TOD-related activities.

U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) recently introduced the Wind Powering American Jobs Act (HR 6031) which would extend the production tax credit for wind energy through 2013. The bill would also extend the option for wind project developers to choose a 30 percent investment tax credit until 2014.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released Notice 2012-44 to provide guidance regarding Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs). State and local governments were first authorized by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 to issue QECBs to finance certain eco-friendly projects.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is seeking comments on new draft program documents for its Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability-EmPOWER (MEEHA-EmPOWER) Program.

Enterprise Community Partners has announced the release of a research report entitled “Incremental Cost, Measurable Savings Update: Enterprise Green Communities Criteria” which examines 52 affordable housing developments that were built using either the 2005 or 2008 versions of the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria (EGCC).

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) has released the first-ever Massachusetts Tax Credit Transparency Report.

This summer, HUD will be issuing new requirements that will synchronize Physical Needs Assessments and Energy Audit into the Green Physical Needs Assessment (GPNA), and will require measuring the cost effectiveness of energy conservation measures.