Wind farm generates a tax tempest
MAYSVILLE, Mo. — A wind farm’s proposal to pay fees to DeKalb County in lieu of taxes found rejection Monday.
“This was just the opening round in negotiations with Wind Capital,” said Dick Lippold, DeKalb County presiding commissioner.
The county has filed paperwork with Missouri’s Department of Economic Development for the creation of an Economic Enhancement Zone that would include Wind Capital’s Lost Creek Wind Project, a new 100-unit wind farm.
“We have to be careful on not pulling money from the tax entities,” said Bruce Skogland, a committee member who works with the King City School District.
Wind Capital’s proposed distribution of PILOT (payment of lieu of taxes) fees upset several school districts and other tax entities in DeKalb County. About 30 businessmen, educators and farmers turned out to listen to the Enhancement Zone committee discuss the proposal at the courthouse on Monday.
Committee members questioned their own authority since Economic Development hasn’t approved the creation of the zone. Members also question whether or not fully operational windmill generators could be part of the zone.
The committee said it wouldn’t meet again until the county receives approval for its economic enhancement zone.
Nevertheless, the committee voted unanimously that Wind Capital’s initial offer should be rejected by the county and made that recommendation to the three county commissioners.
It is clear that committee members want any tax monies to be paid to the appropriate tax entities in the same proportions the county already uses, Mr. Lippold said.
Wind Capital is adding its personal property in DeKalb County to the 2010 tax role, said Ruth Ross, the county assessor. The windmill generators won’t be on the tax rolls until 2011, Mrs. Ross said.
Wind Capital has said that the 150-megawatt project will provide 2,500 jobs through the supply chain and enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes.
Power generated at Lost Creek will feed into the Northwest Electric Cooperative transmission lines for Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., which is buying the power under a 20-year purchase agreement.
