On March 8, a number of Michigan representatives and the Committees on Energy introduced a bipartisan bill to amend the 2010 “Property assessed clean energy act.” The act’s amendments include a change in title and a new addition.

The act looks to “authorize local units of government to adopt property assessment programs and to create districts to promote the use of renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements … to authorize local units of government to issue bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness and to pay the cost of renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements …”

The newly added third part defines “energy efficiency improvement” as being the acquisition, installation, replacement or modification of equipment, devices or materials intended to decrease energy consumption, which includes glass and glazing.

According to the legislation, glazing qualifies as this type of improvement when it is used in “storm windows and doors; multi-glazed windows and doors; heat-absorbing or heat-reflective glazed and coated window and door systems; and additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and other window and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption.”

Other devices and materials intended to decrease energy consumption include automated energy control systems; heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning and distribution systems; caulking, weather-stripping, or air sealing; lighting fixtures; energy recovery systems; and daylighting systems.

The bill was introduced in Michigan’s House Energy Committee.

USGNN™ will continue to monitor the bill’s status as it moves through Michigan’s legislature. This story will be updated as more details are made available.