Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide credits for the production of renewable chemicals and investments in renewable chemical production facilities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015 2. Credits for production of renewable chemicals and investments in renewable chemical production facilities (a) Production of renewable chemicals (1) In general Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 45S. Credit for production of renewable chemicals (a) In general For purposes of section 38, the production credit for renewable chemicals for any taxable year is an amount (determined separately for each renewable chemical produced by the taxpayer) equal to $0.15 per pound of biobased content of each renewable chemical produced by the taxpayer during the taxable year. (b) Limitation The amount of the credit determined under subsection (a) with respect to a renewable chemical produced by the taxpayer during any taxable year shall not exceed the credit amount allocated for purposes of this section by the Secretary to the taxpayer with respect to such chemical for such taxable year under section 48E(e). (c) Biobased content For purposes of this section, the term biobased content (d) Renewable chemical For purposes of this section— (1) In general The term renewable chemical (A) is produced by the taxpayer in the United States (or in a territory or possession of the United States) from renewable biomass. For purposes of this section, the term renewable biomass 7 U.S.C. 8101(13) (B) is sold or used by the taxpayer— (i) for the production of chemical products, polymers, plastics, or formulated products, or (ii) as chemicals, polymers, plastics, or formulated products, (C) has a biobased content percentage of 95 percent or higher, (D) is the product of, or is reliant upon, biological conversion, thermal conversion, or a combination of biological and thermal conversion of renewable biomass, (E) is not sold or used for the production of any food, feed, or fuel, (F) is not a combination of renewable chemicals on the list under subparagraph (G) (or added to such list under paragraph (2)) for which a credit has been claimed by the taxpayer in any taxable year under this section or section 48E, and (G) is acetic acid, acrylic acid, acyl glutamate, adipic acid, algae oils, algae sugars, 1,4-butanediol (BDO), iso-butanol, n-butanol, C10 and higher hydrocarbons produced from olefin metathesis, carboxylic acids produced from olefin metathesis, cellulosic sugar, diethyl methylene malonate, dodecanedioic acid (DDDA), esters produced from olefin metathesis, ethyl acetate, ethylene glycol, farnesene, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, gamma-butyrolactone, glucaric acid, hexamethylenediamine (HMD), 3-hydroxy propionic acid, isoprene, itaconic acid, levulinic acid, polyhydroxyalkonate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyitaconic acid, polyols from vegetable oils, poly(xylitan levulinate ketal), 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-propanediol, rhamnolipids, succinic acid, terephthalic acid, or p-xylene. (2) Additional renewable chemicals The Secretary may add chemicals to the list of renewable chemicals in paragraph (1)(G). Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish a program to consider applications from taxpayers to add renewable chemicals to such list. Any chemical added to such list must meet the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1) (without regard to the phrase by the taxpayer (e) Coordination with investment credit for renewable chemical production facilities See section 48E(f) for rules coordinating section 48E with this section. (f) Termination Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or section 48E, the Secretary may not allocate any credit amount under this section to any taxable year which begins more than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section. . (2) Credit to be part of general business credit Subsection (b) of section 38 of such Code is amended by striking plus , plus (37) the renewable chemicals production credit determined under section 45S(a). . (b) Investment credit in lieu of production credit (1) In general Section 46 and , and (7) the renewable chemical production facilities credit. . (2) Renewable chemical production facilities credit Subpart E of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting after section 48D the following: 48E. Investment credit for renewable chemical production facilities (a) In general For purposes of section 46, the renewable chemical production facilities credit for any taxable year is an amount equal to 30 percent of the basis of any eligible property which is a part of a renewable chemical production facility placed in service by the taxpayer during such taxable year. (b) Limitation The amount of the credit determined under subsection (a) with respect to a renewable chemical production facility of the taxpayer during any taxable year shall not exceed the credit amount allocated for purposes of this section by the Secretary to the taxpayer for such taxable year under subsection (e). (c) Renewable Chemical Production Facility For purposes of this section— (1) In general The term renewable chemical production facility (A) which is owned by the taxpayer, (B) which is originally placed in service after the date of the enactment of this section and before the first day of the taxable year which begins 6 years after the date of the enactment of this section, and (C) with respect to which— (i) no credit has been allowed under section 45S, and (ii) the taxpayer makes an irrevocable election to have this section apply. (2) Eligible property The term eligible property (A) which is— (i) tangible personal property, or (ii) other tangible property (not including a building or its structural components), but only if such property is used as an integral part of the renewable chemical production facility, and (B) with respect to which depreciation (or amortization in lieu of depreciation) is allowable. (3) Renewable chemical The term renewable chemical (d) Special rules (1) Denial of production credit No credit shall be allowed under section 45S for any taxable year with respect to any renewable chemical production facility. (2) Certain qualified progress expenditures rules made applicable Rules similar to the rules of subsections (c)(4) and (d) of section 46 (as in effect on the day before the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990) shall apply for purposes of this section. (e) National limitation on credits for renewable chemicals (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish a program to allocate credit amounts under this section and section 45S to applicants for taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this section. (2) Limitations (A) Aggregate limitation The total amount of credits that may be allocated under such program shall not exceed $500,000,000. (B) Taxpayer limitation The amount of credits that may be allocated to any taxpayer for any taxable year under such program shall not exceed $25,000,000. For purposes of the preceding sentence, all persons treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52, or subsection (m) or (o) of section 414, shall be treated as one taxpayer. (3) Selection criteria In determining to which taxpayers to make allocations of the credit amount under such program, the Secretary shall take into consideration— (A) the number of jobs created and maintained (directly and indirectly) in the United States (including territories and possessions of the United States) as result of such allocation during the credit period and thereafter, (B) the degree to which the production of the renewable chemical demonstrates reduced dependence on imported feedstocks, petroleum, non-renewable resources, or other fossil fuels, (C) the technological innovation involved in the production method of the renewable chemical, (D) the energy efficiency and reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gases of the renewable chemical or of the production method of the renewable chemical, and (E) whether there is a reasonable expectation of commercial viability. (4) Redistribution If a credit amount allocated to a taxpayer for a taxable year with respect to any renewable chemical or renewable chemical production facility (determined without regard to this paragraph) exceeds the amount of the credit with respect to such chemical determined under this section on the taxpayer’s return for such taxable year— (A) the credit amount allocated to such taxpayer for such taxable year with respect to such renewable chemical shall be treated as being the amount so determined on the taxpayer’s return, and (B) such excess may be reallocated by the Secretary consistent with the requirements of this subsection. (5) Disclosure of allocations The Secretary shall, upon making an allocation of credit amount under this section, publicly disclose the identity of the taxpayer and the amount of the credit with respect to such taxpayer. (f) Coordination with production credit for renewable chemicals (1) In general If a taxpayer makes an election under paragraph (2) with respect to a renewable chemical production facility, a credit shall not be allowed under section 45S for any renewable chemical produced by such facility. (2) Election If no credit has been allowed under section 45S with respect to a renewable chemical produced by a renewable chemical production facility, a taxpayer may make an irrevocable election to have this section apply with respect to such facility in lieu of section 45S with respect to such renewable chemical. (g) Regulations The Secretary shall issue such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary to carry out this section and section 45S. (h) Termination The Secretary may not allocate any credit amount under this section to any taxable year which begins more than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section. . (c) Credits allowable against alternative minimum tax Subparagraph (B) of section 38(c)(4) of such Code is amended by redesignating clauses (vii) through (ix) as clauses (ix) through (xi), respectively, and by inserting after clause (vi) the following new clauses: (vii) the credit determined under section 45S, (viii) the credit determined under section 46 to the extent that such credit is attributable to the renewable chemical production facilities credit under section 48E, . (d) Clerical amendments (1) The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 45S. Credit for production of renewable chemicals. . (2) The table of sections for subpart E of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 48E. Investment credit for renewable chemical production facilities. . (e) Effective dates (1) Production credit The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to renewable chemicals produced after the date of the enactment of this Act, in taxable years ending after such date. (2) Investment credit The amendments made by subsection (b) shall apply to renewable chemical production facilities placed in service after the date of the enactment of this Act, in taxable years ending after such date.

Summary: Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for the production of renewable chemicals. The bill defines "renewable chemical" as any chemical that: (1) is produced in the United States from renewable biomass; (2) is sold or used for the production of chemical products, polymers, plastics, or formulated products or as chemicals, polymers, plastics, or formulated products; (3) has a biobased content of 95% or higher; (4) is the product of, or reliant upon, biological or thermal conversion of renewable biomass; (5) is not sold or used for the production of any food, feed, or fuel; and (6) is not a combination of certain specified renewable chemicals. The bill also allows a tax credit for investment in renewable chemical production facilities. The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a program to allocate renewable chemical tax credit amounts to eligible taxpayers and imposes an aggregate limit on the amount of credits that may be allocated to not more than $500 million during the 5-year period after enactment of this Act.