Senate Passes Energy Bill

Wendy Angel

Washington – The Senate Energy Bill (S.10) passed yesterday with a vote of 85 to 12, and the bill included a recycling tax credit that was amended to include electronics recycling. The legislation would allow companies to claim up to 15 percent of cost for equipment used in processing recyclable materials under the General Business Credit. The amendment to the legislation includes equipment for recycling cathode ray tubes (CRTs), flat panel screens and video displays larger than four inches diagonally.

The legislation also included an extension of the renewable production tax credit for landfill gas and waste to energy. Under the new law, there is a three-year “placed in service” window for facilities to be eligible for the tax credit.

The House version of the bill includes neither provision, but members from the Senate and House will now meet in conference committee to reconcile the two bills before the August recess begins.

"The Senate Energy Bill represents a significant advancement in US energy policy in recognizing the energy savings that can be achieved through recycling,” stated John Skinner, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO of SWANA. “We are very pleased to see that the bill has been expanded to provide incentives for recycling of electronic scrap."