Friday, March 12, 2010
Howard: PILOT for wind farm gets OK
Howard, N.Y.
Plans to set up a 25-turbine wind farm in the Town of Howard took another step forward Thursday, with the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency approving property tax reductions for the project.
The board approved a 20-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes – or PILOT – agreement for the EverPower project, Howard Wind.
The amount of taxes the energy company pays will be based on the amount of electricity the wind turbines produce. It will pay $8,300 per megawatt the first year, with 3 percent fee increases beginning the second year.
“We’re obviously very happy that the project is moving forward,” said Kevin Sheen, head of business development for EverPower Renewables in Howard.
PILOTS reduce property taxes for 15-20 years in return for annual payments divided between the town, county and school districts affected by the project.
The payments increase gradually every year until the property is at full taxation by the end of the agreement.
The split between Steuben, Howard and two area school districts has not been determined, but the total first year payment estimate is $415,000-$522,900.
SCIDA’s approval is based on similar approval pending in the town of Howard, and the school districts.
The town has not yet issued permits or collected fees, Sheen said.
Sheen also cleared up information posted on EverPower’s Web site reporting leases held by town officials.
Sheen said the most recent report, filed with the state Attorney General’s office in December, needed clarification.
The developer’s December report indicated brothers Dale and Lowell Smith had lease agreement options for 20 locations on Smith Farm, with each man individual leaseholders, as well.
What was not as clear in the report is all 20 locations were dropped from consideration, and there are no plans to set up any turbines on Smith Farm, Sheen said.
“It is not as clear as it needs to be,” Sheen said. “What this does do is say they have a financial interest.”
Dale Smith is a member of the town planning board, and Lowell Smith is a member of the town board.
The brothers jointly own land scheduled for two leases, Sheen said.
The report also does not include town planning board alternate member Wesley Coots as a leaseholder, Sheen said.
Other town officials with leases for turbines location are Planning Board Chairman Jack Bossard and Town Councilman William Hatch.
Sheen stressed any official on the town or planning boards with leases has not voted on wind farm issues.
Howard: PILOT for wind farm gets OK
Howard, N.Y.
Plans to set up a 25-turbine wind farm in the Town of Howard took another step forward Thursday, with the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency approving property tax reductions for the project.
The board approved a 20-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes – or PILOT – agreement for the EverPower project, Howard Wind.
The amount of taxes the energy company pays will be based on the amount of electricity the wind turbines produce. It will pay $8,300 per megawatt the first year, with 3 percent fee increases beginning the second year.
“We’re obviously very happy that the project is moving forward,” said Kevin Sheen, head of business development for EverPower Renewables in Howard.
PILOTS reduce property taxes for 15-20 years in return for annual payments divided between the town, county and school districts affected by the project.
The payments increase gradually every year until the property is at full taxation by the end of the agreement.
The split between Steuben, Howard and two area school districts has not been determined, but the total first year payment estimate is $415,000-$522,900.
SCIDA’s approval is based on similar approval pending in the town of Howard, and the school districts.
The town has not yet issued permits or collected fees, Sheen said.
Sheen also cleared up information posted on EverPower’s Web site reporting leases held by town officials.
Sheen said the most recent report, filed with the state Attorney General’s office in December, needed clarification.
The developer’s December report indicated brothers Dale and Lowell Smith had lease agreement options for 20 locations on Smith Farm, with each man individual leaseholders, as well.
What was not as clear in the report is all 20 locations were dropped from consideration, and there are no plans to set up any turbines on Smith Farm, Sheen said.
“It is not as clear as it needs to be,” Sheen said. “What this does do is say they have a financial interest.”
Dale Smith is a member of the town planning board, and Lowell Smith is a member of the town board.
The brothers jointly own land scheduled for two leases, Sheen said.
The report also does not include town planning board alternate member Wesley Coots as a leaseholder, Sheen said.
Other town officials with leases for turbines location are Planning Board Chairman Jack Bossard and Town Councilman William Hatch.
Sheen stressed any official on the town or planning boards with leases has not voted on wind farm issues.
posted by Yes! Wind Power for Cohocton at
5:19 AM
4 Comments:
Good to see someone on the positive side blogging. I'm tired of all the BANANA's (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) this is my blog, followed by a sumary statement of impact from the DEIS for the Allegany Wind project. I've been going to hearings since 06.
www.postivspin.blogspot.com
"Construction of the Project will result in temporary disturbance of up to 189 acres of soil and 224 acres of vegetation, most of which is in forest land. In addition, approximately 139 acres of forest land and 1.7 acres of wetland could be temporarily disturbed by Project construction. However, only 24 acres of forest land will be permanently disturbed and there will not be any permanent impacts to wetlands. Following restoration of temporarily disturbed land, a total of approximately 27 acres of land will be converted to built facilities (e.g., roads, turbines, substation, etc.). Project construction will also result in some level of temporary disturbance and congestion on area roadways.
Project operation is expected to result in some level of avian and bat collision mortality. Based on post-construction data from other wind power project sites, bird mortality is expected to be in the range of 2 to 9 birds per turbine per year. The turbines will be visible from many locations within the surrounding area, particularly longer distances, but will also be fully or partially screened from viewers in many locations (e.g., valley settings). There are not any receptors predicted to experience greater than 20 hours of shadow flicker annually (industry standards indicated a threshold of 30 hours per year for potential adverse impact). A few homes are located in areas where Project sound levels may be in the 40 to 42 dBA range. The Project is expected to generate approximately $601,750 per year ($12 million over 20 years) in PILOT revenues to local taxing jurisdictions, while requiring very little in terms of municipal services.
-The town is now taking public input from the DEIS until may. Our local johnny crappleseed (spreading manure about wind) is Gary Abrahams, you probably have encountered him. I know he is perusing the statement to see where he can twist a word or two to further scare and anger the locals.
Ron DeMattio
Allegaqny NY
By
RonD,windspinner, at 1:08 PM
Glad to see someone else positive blogging on this topic. I've been going to town meeting about the Allegany Wind project since 2006, listening to snarling ill informed people,led on by Gary Abrahams, who can use his lawyer skills to twist information to keep them angry and misinformed.
This is my blog address. Have had some trouble logging in the past few days. The following is from the Allegany Wind DEIS statement of completion. It's a summary of impacts.
""Construction of the Project will result in temporary disturbance of up to 189 acres of soil and 224 acres of vegetation, most of which is in forest land. In addition, approximately 139 acres of forest land and 1.7 acres of wetland could be temporarily disturbed by Project construction. However, only 24 acres of forest land will be permanently disturbed and there will not be any permanent impacts to wetlands. Following restoration of temporarily disturbed land, a total of approximately 27 acres of land will be converted to built facilities (e.g., roads, turbines, substation, etc.). Project construction will also result in some level of temporary disturbance and congestion on area roadways.
Project operation is expected to result in some level of avian and bat collision mortality. Based on post-construction data from other wind power project sites, bird mortality is expected to be in the range of 2 to 9 birds per turbine per year. The turbines will be visible from many locations within the surrounding area, particularly longer distances, but will also be fully or partially screened from viewers in many locations (e.g., valley settings). There are not any receptors predicted to experience greater than 20 hours of shadow flicker annually (industry standards indicated a threshold of 30 hours per year for potential adverse impact). A few homes are located in areas where Project sound levels may be in the 40 to 42 dBA range. The Project is expected to generate approximately $601,750 per year ($12 million over 20 years) in PILOT revenues to local taxing jurisdictions, while requiring very little in terms of municipal services.
-Ron DeMattio
Allegany, NY
www.postivspin.blogspot.com
By
RonD,windspinner, at 1:13 PM
Ron-- the wind project was the best thing to happen to the Township of Cohocton in some time. To date with 3 payments, including year zero, the town has received over $2 1/2 million. Now what other small town has a budget like that to work with? This does not include the benefits to the leaseholders, local businesses or the surrounding area. The estimate of the impact to the area during construction was over $70 million. Also the WCCS school and Steuben County are receiving PILOT payments for their share. At least 80% of Cohocton has been behind this project from the beginning, and remain so today. Thanks for your support.
By
Yes! Wind Power for Cohocton, at 1:54 PM
One of the most important benefits -forgot to mention was the 30% reduction in Town Taxes -across the board, whether you were pro or anti-- it's hard to find a negative here!
By
Yes! Wind Power for Cohocton, at 1:57 PM
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