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Energy Tax Breaks: 5 New Benefits for Manufacturers

Posted by Concannon Miller on Thu, Apr 8, 2021

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Energy Tax Breaks: 5 New Benefits for ManufacturersIn recent years, lucrative tax breaks for energy-efficient investments have enticed many manufacturers to "go green."

At the end of 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) was enacted, which includes various provisions that expand and improve certain green tax breaks. Here are five examples that could benefit your company.

Energy-Efficient Buildings

Under prior law, a taxpayer could claim a Section 179D deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot for buildings that save at least 50% of the heating and cooling energy. Certain standards must be met. Partial deductions of up to $0.60 per square foot may be available for measures that affect the building envelope, lighting, or heating and cooling systems.

The 179D deduction was scheduled to expire after 2020, but the CAA makes it permanent. The law also indexes the amount of the $1.80-per-square-foot deduction limit for inflation.

Production Tax Credit

Manufacturers may be in line for the production tax credit (PTC) based on the kilowatt per hour electricity generated at qualified facilities using renewable sources for the first 10 years of production. Initially, the PTC was scheduled to expire after 2019, but it was subsequently extended through 2020.

Now the CAA extends it for another year through 2021 for the following types of facilities:

  • Wind,
  • Closed-loop biomass,
  • Open-loop biomass,
  • Geothermal energy,
  • Landfill gas,
  • Trash,
  • Hydropower, and
  • Marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy.


Your facility may qualify for the PTC if construction begins prior to 2022.

READ MORE: The Top 7 Tax Benefits for Manufacturers in 2021

Investment Tax Credit

The investment tax credit (ITC) is available for solar and certain other renewable energy projects. This credit was scheduled to be reduced to 22% for projects started in 2021. Then it was set to drop permanently to 10% for projected started after 2021.

Now, the CAA revises the ITC phaseout schedule as follows:

  • 26% for projects started in 2021 and 2022,
  • 22% for projects started in 2023, and
  • 10% for projects that start construction after 2023.


A similar phase-out schedule applies to fiberoptic solar, qualified fuel cell, qualified small-wind energy property and, as added by the CAA, qualified energy recovery property. Under the CAA, a firm can't claim the ITC for projects that start construction after 2023.

With these provisions currently in place, manufacturers aren't under the same level of pressure to begin construction in time to qualify for the ITC. In a related provision, firms may continue to elect to take the ITC in lieu of the PTC if construction begins before 2022. This is a one-year extension of the prior rule.

Offshore Wind Tax Credit

The CAA also extends the ITC for qualified offshore wind facilities that begin construction before 2026. Plus, offshore wind facilities that begin construction from 2017 through 2025 aren't subject to the usual phase-outs for this credit. Thus, the ITC for offshore wind projects remains at 50%.

IRS Notice 2021-05 provides guidance on these issues. Notably, it creates a 10-year safe-harbor rule for construction to begin (as opposed to the four-year requirement applicable to other projects under prior IRS guidance).

READ MORE: Manufacturers: Get a Tax Credit for Hiring Certain Workers

Carbon Sequestration Tax Credit

The carbon sequestration tax credit is available for each metric ton of qualified carbon oxide captured at a plant that meets certain technical requirements. For projects placed in service after February 8, 2018, the credit is claimed over a 12-year period beginning in the year in which the carbon capture equipment is placed in service. The credit ranges from $10 to $50 per metric ton, depending on the date the equipment is placed in service and the processes for capturing the carbon oxide.

The CAA extends the beginning of the construction date for certain qualified facilities by two years — through 2025 — to qualify for a credit for sequestering qualified carbon oxide disposed of in secure geological storage.

CAA Authorizes New Spending Measures

In addition to extending the deduction for energy-efficient buildings and energy-related tax credits, the CAA authorizes several spending measures to promote renewable energy and reduce carbon emission while stimulating the economy. This includes:

  • Creating programs to support green technology and advance research and development, such as programs designed to encourage a transition to "smart" buildings,
  • Emphasizing research, development, demonstration and commercial applications to improve technology and systems relating to waterpower, hydropower, marine energy, hydrothermal, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind energy and solar energy,
  • Setting national goals for renewable energy on federal property and establishing a national office to improve coordination among federal agencies,
  • Prioritizing methods for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing carbon removal and improving conversion, use and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels,
  • Providing a multifaceted program for research, development and technology used to integrate blue hydrogen technology in the industrial power sector and accounting for carbon capture and storage, and
  • Establishing a program to test, validate and improve technology and methodology for large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 


Finally, the CAA addresses the need for programs to provide technical assistance for reducing industrial emissions. It also calls for an innovation advisory committee to develop strategies for improving productivity and energy efficiency in the manufacturing sector and other industries.

Go Green, Save Green

This is only a brief summary of five key tax breaks enhanced by the CAA. The Biden administration has indicated support for green initiatives, which may translate into more related tax breaks for businesses. Contact your professional advisors concerning your company's efforts to become more energy efficient.

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© 2021

Topics: Manufacturing

Concannon Miller’s unique, holistic and intimate approach to financial health sets us apart from smaller CPA firms with more limited resources as well as mega firms where mid-sized clients struggle for attention. Contact us here to talk about improving your business.

This communication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered at the time it was published. However, the general information herein is not intended to be nor should it be treated as tax, legal, or accounting advice. Additional issues could exist that would affect the tax treatment of a specific transaction and, therefore, taxpayers should seek advice from an independent tax advisor based on their particular circumstances before acting on any information presented. This information is not intended to be nor can it be used by any taxpayer for the purposes of avoiding tax penalties.

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