Washington State Sen. Maria Cantwell introduced the Clean Energy Stimulus and Investment Assurance Act of 2009 (S.320) legislation to Congress. The bill contains financial incentives for commercial and residential green roof installation. Under section 506 of the proposed legislation, residential and commercial property owners will receive a 30-percent tax credit for qualified green roof expenditures. The tax credit applies to new and retrofit projects where at least 50 percent of the roof area is covered with a green roof.
If the bill is adopted, it will provide green employment for manufacturers, nurseries, designers and installation and maintenance professionals while also saving energy, improving stormwater management and cooling cities. A portion of the bill was drafted by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
