August 13, 2021
Texas

Young County hosts third wind farm hearing

By Mike Williams | The Graham Leader | 08/13/2021 | www.grahamleader.com

Before approving an extended reinvestment zone for a proposed wind farm in Young County and the tax abatement and road use agreements, the Young County Commissioners Court hosted a public hearing. The hearing allowed the public to ask questions and voice their opinions, either for or against, the Apex Wind Farm Reinvestment Zone.

The main issue voiced during the public hearing was a wind farm’s effects on the land value of the neighboring properties that do not have wind turbines. Another issue raised was the resell value of those properties.

Local realtor Linsey Taylor asked the first question during the public hearing. She asked who makes the determination if the project is a failure or if the equipment needs to be removed.

“Generally speaking, that would be a business decision of the part of the operator of the facility,” representing Young County, Bob Bass replied. “(They would decide) that it essentially no longer has a profitability and then they would decommission it.”

The only role the county government plays in the operation of the potential wind farm is the granting of the tax abatement. The tax abatement is 70% of the capital value of the asset for the 10-year abatement period, according to Bass.

Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two-part story involving the Young County Commissioners Court meeting Monday, Aug. 9.

For the rest of the story, see the Aug. 14 edition of The Graham Leader.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/08/13/young-county-hosts-third-wind-farm-hearing/