February 27, 2015
Letters, Washington

Warnings about wind farm project coming true

Daily Record | February 28, 2015 | www.dailyrecordnews.com

Residents who opposed the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project (KVWP) said many years ago that EDP Renewables North America/Horizon Wind Energy/Zilkha Renewable Energy would swiftly depreciate the KVWP project to avoid paying property taxes. They also pointed out that the (PSE owned/operated) Wild Horse Wind Power project would be assessed the same rate over the 20 year life span of the project under existing Washington State Utility taxing rules and was sited in a great location.

Sadly, the Daily Record Feb. 25, article (“Schools, county to give back $500K to wind farm”) has shown that the KVWP has in fact turned out to not be as advertised by advocates. Due to accelerated depreciation of the wind power facility, it is quite likely our property taxes will rise to pay off the EDP deficit and meet future county commitments based on faulty tax base projections.

At the same time, EDP will sell their insignificant/inefficiently produced/taxpayer subsidized power to California after despoiling a world-class, Washington state scenic corridor (Highway 97 from Ellensburg to Lauderdale Junction) and will continue to impact wildlife habitat and wildlife diversity in the Kittitas Valley.

Mike Robertson

Cle Elum

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/02/27/warnings-about-wind-farm-project-coming-true/