Downstate wind farm is providing tax relief ~ letter

Downstate wind farm is providing tax relief
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009

For people who think wind farms do not benefit their host communities:

The High Sheldon Wind project is located in the Finger Lakes region in Wyoming County. Sheldon Energy, a subsidiary of Invenergy, was the developer for that wind project. The project's Final Environmental Impact Statement is available online. From the 139-page document, these details emerge about the project's payment in lieu of taxes:

"Property taxes will be paid to the fire districts from day one of the project. At the conclusion of the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement, taxes will also be paid to the town, county and school districts. Under the Host Community Agreement, payments will be made to the town, county and school districts. As Sheldon Energy has repeatedly stated, these revenues from Sheldon Energy could be used by the town to pay for its normal expenditures, reducing the amount of money that must be collected in property taxes to meet the annual town budget. The final determination on how to use these new revenues is in the hands of the elected officials, not Sheldon Energy."