Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2015

or the

BTU Act of 2015

Residential energy-efficient property credit for biomass fuel property expenditures

(a)

Allowance of credit

Subsection (a) of section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1)by striking and at the end of paragraph (4), (2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting , and, and (3)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(6)in the case of taxable years beginning before January 1, 2021, 30 percent of the qualified biomass fuel property expenditures made by the taxpayer during such year.

(b)

Qualified biomass fuel property expenditures

Subsection (d) of section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(6)

Qualified biomass fuel property expenditure

(A)

In general

The term qualified biomass fuel property expenditure means an expenditure for property— (i)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 (ii)which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent (measured by the higher heating value of the fuel). (B)

Biomass fuel

For purposes of this section, 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, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, and fibers. Such term includes densified biomass fuels such as wood pellets.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to expenditures paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.

Investment tax credit for biomass heating property

(a)

In general

Subparagraph (A) of section 48(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking or at the end of clause (vi), by inserting or at the end of clause (vii), and by inserting after clause (vii) the following new clause:

(viii)open-loop biomass (within the meaning of section 45(c)(3)) heating property, including boilers or furnaces which operate at thermal output efficiencies of not less than 65 percent (measured by the higher heating value of the fuel) and which provide thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, or steam for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat,

(b)

30-Percent and 15-Percent credits

(1)

Energy percentage

(A)

In general

Subparagraph (A) of section 48(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii) and by inserting after clause (i) the following new clause:

(ii)except as provided in clause (i)(V), 15 percent in the case of energy property described in paragraph (3)(A)(viii), but only with respect to periods ending before January 1, 2021, and

(B)

Conforming amendment

Subparagraph of section 48(a)(2)(A)(iii) of such Code, as so redesignated, is amended by inserting or (ii) after clause (i). (2)

Increased credit for greater efficiency

Clause (i) of section 48(a)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by striking and at the end of subclause (III) and by inserting after subclause (IV) the following new subclause:

(V)energy property described in paragraph (3)(A)(viii) which operates at a thermal output efficiency of not less than 80 percent (measured by the higher heating value of the fuel), but only with respect to periods ending before January 1, 2021,

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to periods after December 31, 2015, in taxable years ending after such date, under rules similar to the rules of section 48(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990).