LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Commission OKs tax break for wind farm 

Franklin County commissioners unanimously approved a tax break for a Canadian wind-farm developer Tuesday morning after closing a public comment period open since last Thursday.

Over the weekend commissioners received e-mails and comments about the proposed 20-year tax agreement between Franklin County and Toronto-based energy company TransCanada.

TransCanada proposes to build a 132-megawatt, 44-turbine commercial wind farm along Kibby Mountain and Kibby Range in Kibby and Skinner townships in northern Franklin County.

The project was approved by commissioners earlier this year. Then TransCanada sought a tax increment financing plan.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve had to make in 15 years on the board,” said Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon. “I believe the tax agreement can be beneficial to Franklin County. I’m not doing it to give TransCanada a tax break but to get economic development.”

In the proposal, the county would be able to capture up to $4 million, based on a $220-million taxable investment, in new revenue to invest in economic development in unorganized territories.

But it could also return a maximum of $8.9 million to TransCanada to reinvest in the development over 20 years, and a $9.3 million in new tax revenue to the state’s unorganized territories.

That’s money that could otherwise reduce the property tax commitment to all 21 Franklin County towns and plantations, said Carrabassett Valley Town Manager Dave Cota at an earlier meeting.

“A 75 percent agreement is better than 100 percent. It isn’t as damaging,” Hardy said, adding that everyone in the county benefits from economic development.

Commissioner Meldon Gilmore of Kingfield said of 10 e-mails received as public comments, only two opposed the TIF, and since he represents the people, the majority rules. Hardy said he received 18 comments in favor and about 16 comments opposed.

Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay said negative comments were not against the TIF but against the project.

Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis then asked commissioners why they would approve a TIF for a project that people don’t like.

“The commissioners have been privy to private information that the public does not have. We’ve been made aware of issues in negotiations,” McGrane said, information that is up to TransCanada to release.

The board agreed that the deal could be good and public comments were not the only thing they used to make the decision.

“We represent the people to the best of our abilities, and I believe that’s what we’re doing today,” McGrane said.

By Ann Bryant
Staff Writer

Lewiston Sun Journal

4 June 2008

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon