SB0259 - Local wastewater and clean energy districts.

1 Co-Sponsor

Local wastewater and clean energy districts. Authorizes the metropolitan development commission of a consolidated city or city plan commission of a city other than a consolidated city (commission), following a written recommendation from the board of public works or board of public works and safety (works board) of the city, and subject to the approval of the city legislative body, to adopt a resolution designating a wastewater facility improvement district (district) as an allocation area for purposes of the allocation and distribution of property taxes, allowing incremental property tax revenue to be captured to connect properties in the district to the municipal sewer system. Provides that, before making a recommendation to the commission to establish a district, a works board must: (1) establish the boundaries of the district; (2) identify the owners of property in the district; (3) create a proposed plan; and (4) hold a public hearing. Requires the establishment of a wastewater facility improvement fund (fund) for each wastewater facility improvement district and requires the commission to administer the fund. Provides that the incremental property tax revenue from a district shall be deposited in the fund and may be used only to connect properties in the district to the municipal sewer system. Authorizes the issuance of bonds payable from the fund. Requires the commission to make an annual report on each district to the fiscal body of the city and the department of local government finance. Authorizes a local governmental unit (or two or more local governmental units) to: (1) designate an area as a clean energy improvement financing district; (2) establish a voluntary property assessed clean energy program in the district under which qualified clean energy improvements will be made in eligible properties to lower utility costs to consumers through efficient generation and consumption of energy or generate energy through local sources such as community solar facilities; (3) designate a clean energy improvement financing district; and (4) authorize within the financing district the financing of qualified clean energy improvements. Defines "qualified clean energy improvement". Defines "eligible property" as including commercial, industrial, and agricultural property, school buildings, and local government buildings, and provides that a residential property may also be an eligible property for the purposes of connecting the property to a sanitary sewer system. Makes property owner participation in a clean energy improvement program voluntary. Provides for property owners to pay for qualified clean energy improvements to their properties through assessments. Allows liens to be imposed for unpaid assessments. Allows the funding of a clean energy improvement program by the issuance of bonds or through commercial lenders, federal or state grants and loans, or local government sources. Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission to establish technical guidelines for the administration of clean energy improvement programs.