Tax credit for 2009 - includes wood stoves - but ONLY above 75% efficiency.

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webbie

Seasoned Moderator
Hearth Supporter
Nov 17, 2005
12,165
Western Mass.
---Press Release below-------not sure how they will calculate the efficiency, but my guess is that testing will be required, not just guessing!

$300 Tax Credit for Purchase of 75% Efficient Wood & Pellet Stoves
New Legislation Includes Credit for Homeowners

Arlington, VA – October 8, 2008: Last week, President Bush signed the economic rescue legislation (H.R. 1424), that includes a $300 tax credit to consumers who purchase a 75%-efficient wood- or pellet-burning stove in 2009. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), in conjunction with the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI), succeeded in including the tax credit to help consumers fight rising home heating costs in the Energy Tax Extenders bill that was attached to H.R.1424.

HPBA and PFI have worked to educate elected officials and their staffs on the benefits and energy efficiency of wood and pellet stoves. These efforts paid-off. As the cost of heating oil and natural gas rise, this $300 tax credit for the purchase of a wood or pellet stove in 2009 will help consumers save on energy costs.

"This is a huge victory for our industry and consumers," said Jack Goldman, president of HPBA. "It is a good example of how the industry can work in Washington and on a grassroots level and help pass good legislation. With the rise in home heating prices, this tax credit will help alleviate some of the initial cost for those consumers wanting to purchase a 75%-efficient wood or pellet stove next year."

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based in Arlington, VA, is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms and allied associates for all types of hearth, barbecue and patio appliances, fuels and accessories.
The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI), also based in Arlington, VA, is a trade association that represents the fuel preparation and clean-burning technology of renewable biomass energy sources.
 
As if President Bush understands anything about "efficiency". OOPS!, sorry, thought I was in the Can. :red: Rick
 
bayshorecs said:
Too bad I bought mine in 2008...

My thoughts exactly . . . on the otherhand I'm enjoying the economic benefits already without having to wait for the politicians to decide whether or not to reward me for being financially and environmentally responsible.
 
This from the actual bill, though I am not smart enough to make to much sense of it. Looks like it includes purchases in 2008. Here is the link, http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h1424enr.txt.pdf
search on keyword TITLE III. This next part is an addendum to TITLE III.

SEC. 302. CREDIT FOR NONBUSINESS ENERGY PROPERTY.
(a) EXTENSION OF CREDIT.—Section 25C(g) is amended by
striking ‘‘placed in service after December 31, 2007’’ and inserting
‘‘placed in service—
‘‘(1) after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2009,
or
‘‘(2) after December 31, 2009.’’.
(b) QUALIFIED BIOMASS FUEL PROPERTY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 25C(d)(3) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (D),
(B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph
(E) and inserting ‘‘, and’’, and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(F) a stove which uses the burning of biomass fuel
to heat a dwelling unit located in the United States and
used as a residence by the taxpayer, or to heat water
for use in such a dwelling unit, and which has a thermal
efficiency rating of at least 75 percent.’’.
(2) BIOMASS FUEL.—Section 25C(d) is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(6) BIOMASS FUEL.—The term ‘biomass fuel’ means any
plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis,
including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood waste
and residues (including wood pellets), plants (including aquatic
plants), grasses, residues, and fibers.’’.
(c) MODIFICATION OF WATER HEATER REQUIREMENTS.—Section
25C(d)(3)(E) is amended by inserting ‘‘or a thermal efficiency of
at least 90 percent’’ after ‘‘0.80’’.
 
According to the EPA Website most wood burning stoves do not meet the 75% efficiency requirement.

The default efficiencies are: noncatalytic wood heaters - 63%, catalytic wood heaters - 72% and pellet stoves - 78%.

This is a good site for epa information on wood stoves.

(broken link removed to http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/index.html)
 
Looks like my Keystone won't make the cut =-(

• Catalytic Combustor: Standard
• EPA Certified: Yes
• EPA Efficiency: 72%
• EPA Emission Rating: 1.9 grams/hr
 
Are there any that are that efficient?
 
Jake said:
Are there any that are that efficient?

I didn't see any on the EPA list for wood stoves, but it was a quick look, the list is pretty long. It looks like Pellet Stoves meet the requirement.
 
if i add some reflective material around my stove.... i think it makes it 12% more efficient?
 
I think painting my 30-NC a different color raised the thermal efficiency by 12.375%. :lol:

But that 25-PDVC pellet stove for $599 last spring on sale just got real cheap.
 
SlyFerret said:
Corie! Quick! I need a mod for my 30 to get it up to 75%!!!

-SF

Slide both baffle boards all the way to the left. That should make it 75.214% :coolsmirk:
 
I can't find any small ones that meet requirement.
Will this mean that the manufacturers will make a more efficient stove next year? I wonder if I should put off buying till next year?
The article did mean that non cats are allowed, too didn't it?
I don't want to go cat just to get to the 75% mark.
 
Any lawyers or tax accountants here that can determine if the language quoted above means its good for 2008 also?
 
J-Man said:
Any lawyers or tax accountants here that can determine if the language quoted above means its good for 2008 also?

Based on the wording, it appears as though it covers 2008, skips 2009, then is back in starting January 1, 2010.

Also, it looks like this credit is part of the residential energy credits that have been available for the last couple of years for installing efficient water heaters, insulation, windows, etc. These are nice credits, but some max out at $500 - meaning that you can only claim a lifetime Max of $500 for the residence. I think this credit is part of this lifetime max.

sincerly,
chi-town cpa
 
Sounds like a nice way of saying, "See what good guys we are?", knowing all the time that almost nothing on the market will qualify for it, so there will be no tax credits credited. Gotta give 'em credit. Rick
 
Here's another kicker with this act - the FDIC limit was raised to $250K versus $100K - which is a good thing. But according to Sec 136 of the Act, this ENDS on 12/31/09 and then reverts back to $100K.

It's smoke and mirrors

This thing is loaded - 169 pages
 
This is from the Pellet Fuel Institute webpage. I'm disappointed by their lack of clarity on this. They've been all over this and certainly are responsible for getting it inserted into the bill.

(broken link removed to http://www.pelletheat.org/2/index/bass.html)

IMPORTANT NOTE: REBATE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION & EFFECTIVE DATE

Please note: The consumer rebate program for high-efficiency renewable energy heating systems, passed in the recent Energy Bill, is not yet available to consumers and requires additional action both by Congress and the Department of Energy in order to be operational.

Please also note that the rebate program will only be available if Congress approves money for the program during the next federal appropriations cycle. The rebate will exist only if Congressional appropriations are approved AND the Department of Energy has completed its rulemaking.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is plastered all over the place, mostly on lawyer/accountant web pages:

Extensions and Modifications of Existing Renewable Energy Incentives for Individuals. The Act includes extensions of a number of energy tax credits primarily available to individuals that were set to expire on December 31, 2008 or January 1, 2009. Energy tax credits being extended and/or modified include:

Credit for residential energy efficient property. The Code Section 25D residential energy efficient property credit is extended through December 31, 2016, and such credit is expanded to apply to certain wind turbine and geothermal heat pump expenditures. The Act also allows the credit to offset the AMT.

Nonbusiness energy property credit. The Act reinstates the Code Section 25C nonbusiness energy property credit, extends the credit to certain stoves and water heaters using biomass fuel (meaning any plant-derived renewable fuel, including wood) for expenditures after December 31, 2008, and extends the credit to asphalt roofs with cooling granules for property placed in service after October 3, 2008, the date of enactment of the Act. The Act also modifies the efficiency standard that certain appliances placed in service after December 31, 2008 must meet in order to qualify for the credit.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Previously, wood/pellet stoves were not included. So the extension is not relevant to that part. I believe it is only for new stoves starting next year.[/size]
 
Really does sound like a bunch of gov't BS when no stoves apply. Not sure why I should be surprised though. Not that I'm in favor of those subsidies anyhow.

In general though, does a fireplace fall under the "stove" category when it's a high-efficiency wood-burner that can heat an entire house?
 
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