The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency will seek public comments at 6:30 p. m. tonight, Wednesday and Thursday in hearings on proposed revisions to the agency's uniform tax exemption policy to accommodate wind farm developments. The revisions, if adopted, will set a schedule for payments-in-lieu-of-taxes.

ELLICOTTVILLE - The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency will seek public comments at 6:30 p. m. tonight, Wednesday and Thursday in hearings on proposed revisions to the agency's uniform tax exemption policy to accommodate wind farm developments.

The revisions, if adopted, will set a schedule for payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) to school districts, towns and the county for commercial wind farm facilities, and will set exemptions from sales and real estate taxes for small alternate energy facilities.

The hearings begin tonight in the West Valley Central School Auditorium, 5359 School St., West Valley; and continue Wednesday at the Cattaraugus County Office Building, 1 Leo Moss Drive, Olean; and Thursday in the Cattaraugus County Office Building, 303 Court St., Little Valley.

Wind energy facilities are being proposed in several Cattaraugus County towns, including Machias, Ashford, Yorkshire, Allegany and Carrollton, while a number of communities have adopted wind energy facility local laws in anticipation of future project applications.

The uniform tax exemption policy revisions were recommended in June by the members of the agency's Wind Farm Committee, who held three meetings on the subject beginning in March.

The CCIDA board also will receive written comments at the agency's office at 3 Washington St., Ellicottville, NY 14731. For information or to review the proposal, call CCIDA at 699-2005.

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