Summary
This bill would extend the allowance of tax credits for the purchase of energy efficient home heating systems and for the purchase of cleaner heating fuel oil. The bill would extend tax credit of up to $500 for the purchase of a fuel-efficient home heating system until 2009. The bill would also extend the bio-heat tax credit, calculated as $0.01 per percent of bio-diesel content per gallon and capped $.20 per gallon, until 2011. These credits were both originally enacted as part of Chapter 35 of 2006. 

Explanation
The installation of higher-efficiency home heating systems can help reduce the pollution that causes global warming. Per the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in 2000 emissions of greenhouse gasses from residential property were estimated to account for approximately 16 percent of New York’s total greenhouse gas emissions profile.  

In addition to providing incentives for purchase of efficient home heating systems this bill would also offer incentives for using blends of bio-diesel for certain heating systems. Bio-diesel blends produce a much cleaner fuel than current No.2 heating oil. Extending these tax incentives will help cut emission of sulfur dioxide (a contributor to fine particles in our air).

Millions of New Yorkers live in areas of the state with poor air quality. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 89 percent of the state’s population lives in a county where air quality does not attain federal health standards. EPA has declared that the counties of Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Kings, Richmond, New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland and Orange are in “non-attainment” for fine particles.

Providing incentives such as these helps clean our air, cut the emissions responsible for global warming and protect the environment of New York State.

Environmental Advocates of New York supports this bill.