Silicon Firm Gets Washington Court to Back Natural Gas Tax Break

A company that makes silicon for solar panels is entitled to a Washington use tax exemption for natural gas consumed in the manufacturing process, a state appeals court ruled Thursday.

REC Solar Grade Silicon LLC doesn’t have to bring the natural gas into direct contact with the product to qualify for the exemption meant to benefit the semiconductor industry, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division III, said in an unpublished opinion awarding the company a $1.64 million refund.

Allowing the exemption is consistent with the state legislature’s ongoing effort to promote investment in Washington’s semiconductor manufacturing industry to enhance its ...