By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
managing editor
KEYSER — After splitting 2-1 on whether they should send a letter in support of the proposed U.S. WindForce Pinnacle Wind Farm project to the Public Service Commission at their last meeting, the Mineral County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to enter into a contract with the wind farm developers which would guarantee a minimum tax income from the business.
Since they have been proposing construction of the wind farm on Green Mountain, U.S. WindForce has been distributing a tax table estimating that the total property taxes to be generated by the business would range from $312,000 to $512,000 a year. The largest chunk of that would go to the Mineral County School System. The county is next in line, and the smallest portion would go to the state.
According to the chart, WindForce estimated that Mineral County would receive between $99,294 and $146,736 annually.
The method by which those figures were reached was verified by a representative of the West Virginia State Tax Department at
the Oct. 5 meeting of the U.S. WindForce Community Advisory Panel.
The commissioners have been concerned, however, with some worst case scenarios in which either the state would altar its method of assessing wind power facilities, or the voters of the county would for some reason choose not to renew some of the county's existing levies.
U.S. WindForce therefore agreed to enter into a contract with the county in which they would guarantee a “floor” of $250,000 in total property taxes each year. Should the taxes they generate ever go below that, U.S. WindForce – or any other company operating the wind facility – would make up the difference.
Commission President Wayne Spiggle noted Tuesday that, should either “worst case scenario” occur, resulting in a significant loss in revenue to the county, “the county would be thrown into chaos and the contract really wouldn't save us.”
Commissioner Janice LaRue called the contract “an assurance,” however.
“We have tried and tried to do everything we can to assure the people of the county that we have done our job and looked at all this,” she said.
“If there is a significant change in tax law ... this would guarantee a minimum payment,” County Coordinator Mike Bland confirmed.
Commissioner Cindy Pyles said she was “comfortable with the contract.”
Spiggle, who was the lone vote against sending the letter of support to the PSC at their last meeting, told his fellow commissioners Tuesday, “if both of you feel it is good to sign this contract, then I will sign it too.”
LaRue made the motion to enter into the contract, and Pyles seconded it.
“Without objection, so ordered,” Spiggle said.
The contract is to be in effect for as long as the wind farm is in operation.
Keyser, W.Va. —
