Senator Panepinto’s Green Home Tax Exemption Bill Unanimously Passes State Senate on Earth Day

First piece of sponsored legislation passed by Panepinto

ALBANY, N.Y. – Today, Senator Marc Panepinto secured a huge win for Erie County with the passage of his Green Home Tax Exemption (S.3644) bill. After its unanimous vote, he released the following statement outside the Senate Chamber:

“It is certainly fitting that on Earth Day, my first piece of legislation passed simultaneously addresses environmental responsibility and the crushing burden that is our property tax climate. I am very proud to have gotten a bill through the State Senate, but I am even prouder of what it accomplishes. By authorizing a green home tax exemption in upwards of 35%, the State encourages the use of renewable energy and resources which will have a positive impact on our environment. In addition to promoting greener practices, this bill will also help our region prosper by incentivizing critical growth in Erie County’s recovering housing market. As I head into the final 2 months of session, I look forward to fighting for more meaningful legislation on behalf of Western New York.”    

Background information on S.3644:

• Establishes a Green Development Home Tax Exemption for Erie County.
• Authorizes a 35% exemption from local real property taxation for homes that are part of green developments as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified or certified by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org/LEED).
• Nation Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is a trade association that helps promote the policies that make housing a national priority.
• Buildings account for 41% of C02 emissions in the United States between commercial and residential. 33% comes from Transportation and 29% comes from Industry
• Buildings consume 73% of the electricity load in the US
• Average LEED certified building uses 32% less electricity and saves 350 metric tons of C02 emissions annually.
• Green Buildings consume 25% less energy and 11% less water.
• Retrofitting just 1 out of 100 American homes with water-efficient fixtures could avoid approximately 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of removing 15,000 cars from the road for one year.