* § 47. Grade no. 6 heating oil conversion tax credit. (a) (1) Allowance of credit. A taxpayer that meets the eligibility requirements of subdivision (b) of this section and is subject to tax under article nine-A or twenty-two of this chapter may be eligible to claim a grade no. 6 heating oil conversion tax credit in the taxable year the conversion is complete. The credit shall be equal to fifty percent of the conversion costs for all of the taxpayer's buildings located at a facility regulated pursuant to section 19-0302 or title ten of Article 17 of the environmental conservation law, paid by such taxpayer on or after January first, two thousand twenty-two and before January first, two thousand twenty-four. The credit cannot exceed five hundred thousand dollars per facility.

(2) A taxpayer that is a partner in a partnership, member of a limited liability company or shareholder in a subchapter S corporation shall be allowed its pro rata share of the credit earned by the partnership, limited liability company or subchapter S corporation that meets the eligibility criteria described in subdivision (b) of this section to claim a grade no. 6 heating oil conversion tax credit. In no event may the total amount of the credit earned by the partnership, limited liability company or subchapter S corporation exceed five hundred thousand dollars for all buildings located at a New York state department of environmental conservation regulated facility.

(3) No cost or expense paid or incurred by the taxpayer that is included as part of the calculation of this credit shall be the basis of any other tax credit allowed under this chapter.

(b) Eligibility criteria. (1) To be eligible to claim a grade no. 6 heating oil conversion tax credit, a business entity must:

(i) incur expenses for the conversion from grade no. 6 heating oil fuel, as described as "conversion costs" in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of this section, to biodiesel heating oil or a geothermal system at any building located in New York state outside the city of New York;

(ii) submit an application to and obtain approval of such application by the New York state energy research and development authority describing the conversion and approved costs to complete such conversion;

(iii) not be principally engaged in the generation or distribution of electricity, power or energy;

(iv) be in compliance with all environmental conservation laws and regulations; and

(v) not owe past due state taxes unless the business entity is making payments and complying with an approved binding payment agreement entered into with the taxing authority.

(c) Definitions. As used in this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) Conversion costs means the equipment and labor costs associated with the design, installation and use of space heating and other energy conversion systems that are designed to or accommodate the use of biodiesel fuel or a geothermal system and, at the option of the taxpayer, the costs of completing an ASHRAE level 2 energy audit including assessment of electrification options.

(2) Biodiesel means a minimum blend of eighty-five (85) percent biodiesel, defined as fuel manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or other agricultural or other products or by-products, with petrodiesel fuel commonly used for heating systems.

(3) Geothermal means a system that uses the ground or ground water as a thermal energy source/sink to heat or cool a building or provide hot water within the building.

(4) A New York state department of environmental conservation regulated facility is a facility regulated pursuant to section 19-0302 or title ten of Article 17 of the environmental conservation law.

(d) The commissioner, in consultation with the New York state energy research and development authority, will develop an application process to certify the expenses necessary for the conversion and a taxpayer will not be eligible to claim the credit unless it has completed that application process and the application has been approved by the New York state energy research and development authority.

(e) Information sharing. The department, the department of environmental conservation and the New York state energy research and development authority shall be allowed and are directed to share and exchange information regarding the information contained on the credit application for claiming the grade no. 6 heating oil conversion tax credit and such information exchanged between the department, the department of environmental conservation and the New York state energy research and development authority shall not be subject to disclosure or inspection under the state's freedom of information law.

(f) Cross references. For application of the credit provided for in this section, see the following provisions of this chapter:

(1) article 9-A: section 210-B, subdivision 58;

(2) article 22: section 606, subsection (nnn).

* NB There are 3 § 47's