February 6, 2007
West Virginia
West Virginia
Governor Joe Manchin says his new wind energy bill is all about that industry paying its fair share to the state. The bill was introduced in the state Senate Friday and Manchin discussed the bill with MetroNews Monday.
Manchin says, “If we are going to grow the state the way we need to it has to be a fair level playing field.”
The bill would nearly eliminate the salvage rate the wind farm owners currently pay in property taxes and instead they would pay regular property tax rates. They would also be required to pay B&O Taxes like other power producing facilities. The wind farm owners could earn tax credits by investing in local community projects.
The governor says people are getting “very, very wealthy” off of energy and if people are going to come and use West Virginia they should pay their fair share.
Governor Manchin says he’s not trying to discourage wind energy development in the Mountain State. “There’s a value to wind power and wind is going to go where the wind cycles are.” Manchin says when the PSC approves those projects, “I just want to make sure that when it’s all said and done the state of West Virginia and the people of West Virginia are treated fairly.”
The bill introduced in the Senate last Friday has been forwarded to a committee for further consideration.
MetroNews
5 February 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/02/06/governor-says-wind-energy-should-pay-more/