DIXFIELD — Selectmen say it's not too early to consider the impact of an added $500,000 in revenue that a proposed wind farm would bring, and have scheduled a special meeting on Feb. 9 to look further into the matter.
Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky told the board Monday night that the town no longer has a moratorium, and Patriot Renewables LLC of Quincy, Mass., appears to be moving along on its planned 13-turbine industrial wind project that would be located on the Colonel Holman Mountain ridge line.
“If the project becomes a reality, it could mean $500,000 to $600,000 a year revenue to this town,” Skibitsky said. “That's an enormous impact and it's not too early to plan.”
He said the project would increase the town's $150,000,000 tax base by another $60,000,000.
The board plans to have Matt Eddy, a consultant with Eaton Peabody, come to the special meeting to discuss such things as tax relief and tax increment financing, which is a tool that can provide infrastructure development or tax relief.
“Now's the time to start thinking about these things. We may want to talk with Patriot, who must show tangible benefits to the town. There's a world of things out there,” he said.
The board will likely hold monthly workshops devoted exclusively to the multitude of impacts the wind project could have.
Representatives from the state will also be invited to provide tax implications, environmental considerations and other information.
In other matters on Monday, the board approved borrowing $103,000 at a rate of about 1.5 percent over a 20-year period for costs associated with replacing the sewer main that is attached to the Webb River Bridge.
That bridge, which connects Dixfield with Mexico, will be replaced during 2011 and 2012. The sewer main carries sewerage from Dixfield to the treatment plant in Mexico.
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need educating
Yes Dixfield needs educating. i wonder if every land owner within 2 miles of this project has been notified? I know for a fact that 24 of 38 recptors within 3000 feet of Saddleback Wind project in Carthage were not notified. And by the way these 24 receptors were not happy.
TIF does not work with RSU school districts. When host town saves other towns kick in more share of school budget.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Hook them with big dollar
Hook them with big dollar figures. They always settle upon a lot less later. Never, ever, put your faith in selectmen and town managers who are in way over their heads. One year to bring an ordinance forward for voter decision concluded in complete failure by Dixfield's so-called leaders.
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The whole wind power idea is such a taxpayer and rate payer scam. I’m particularly bothered by the TIFs. It’s the last insult thrown in the face of Mainers (just before they build the turbines, the ultimate insult).
A. TIFs were invented as a way to lure businesses that created good paying jobs to your area. But since the wind companies create so few permanent jobs, granting TIFs to wind companies is a joke.
B. If you look at Kibby’s TIF, Franklin County kept $4,000,000 of TIF money for economic development and gave almost $9,000,000 back to Trans Canada (over 20 years). This $9,000,000 gift, which Trans Canada failed to pay in taxes, has to be made up for by you and me and a lot of other Maine taxpayers. Correct me if I’m wrong, but why shouldn’t Franklin County keep the whole $13,000,000 and then just budget a few million for economic development. Franklin County would be way ahead of the game.
C. If your town or UT wants to understand what a TIF is all about, the wind companies will generously offer to pay for a law firm to “help” you understand what a TIF is all about and what a wonderful benefit it is for your town. That law firm is Eaton Peabody from Bangor. They have “helped” a lot of towns negotiate a TIF with the wind companies (while being paid with wind company money). Believe me, Eaton Peabody never forgets who is writing their paychecks!
D. Another part of the wind companies TIF that bugs the heck out of me is the fact that the turbines are depreciated 4% per year. In the Kibby TIF, allowing the 4% depreciation costs Franklin County another $13,367,559 over 20 years. Sweet deal for Trans Canada! Mars Hill was the first TIF negotiated and there was no depreciation allowed! None! Eaton Peabody slipped 2% into the Rollins project by First Wind. Now Eaton Peabody and their greedy masters have slipped 4% depreciation into all the recent TIF agreements.
E. When is Maine going to wake up!
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Wow, I can almost see the trickle of saliva at the corner of their mouths. Destroying Maine's natural beauty, one ridgeline at a time.
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