Franklin County to repay state for wind farm tax abatement
Sun Journal, |Donna M. Perry|March 19, 2021
According to a letter sent to Helix Maine Wind Development on March 4 by the Maine Revenue Services Property Tax Division, the state reduced the valuation of the 44-turbine facility by $54.86 million. As a result, a refund of $469,611.60 is warranted for property in the townships of Wyman, Jim Pond, Kibby, Chain of Ponds and Skinner for tax year 2020, according to supervisor Lisa Whynot's letter to Helix. The refund to Helix is expected to be issued within four to six weeks.
According to a letter sent to Helix Maine Wind Development on March 4 by the Maine Revenue Services Property Tax Division, the state reduced the valuation of the 44-turbine facility by $54.86 million. As a result, a refund of $469,611.60 is warranted for property in the townships of Wyman, Jim Pond, Kibby, Chain of Ponds and Skinner for tax year 2020, according to supervisor Lisa Whynot's letter to Helix. The refund to Helix is expected to be issued within four to six weeks.
FARMINGTON — Franklin County will repay the state $469,611.60 related to the state's tax abatement to Helix Maine Wind Development in the county's unorganized territory.
Of that amount, $187,844.64 is the county's share, which will come out of tax-increment financing funds, and Helix will repay the county $281,766.96 related to a credit enhancement agreement. The two amounts equal what's owed, which the county will submit to the state.
Commissioners decided Tuesday to repay the state. They also voted to send a letter to the county's legislative delegation asking them to remedy the lack of notification by the state alerting an entity, in this case the county, of a pending abatement application.
County Clerk Julie …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]FARMINGTON — Franklin County will repay the state $469,611.60 related to the state's tax abatement to Helix Maine Wind Development in the county's unorganized territory.
Of that amount, $187,844.64 is the county's share, which will come out of tax-increment financing funds, and Helix will repay the county $281,766.96 related to a credit enhancement agreement. The two amounts equal what's owed, which the county will submit to the state.
Commissioners decided Tuesday to repay the state. They also voted to send a letter to the county's legislative delegation asking them to remedy the lack of notification by the state alerting an entity, in this case the county, of a pending abatement application.
County Clerk Julie Magoon learned the company had filed one from a representative of Helix. Fortunately there is money in the tax-increment financing account to cover this but other smaller counties may not have that option, she said.
According to a letter sent to Helix Maine Wind Development on March 4 by the Maine Revenue Services Property Tax Division, the state reduced the valuation of the 44-turbine facility by $54.86 million. As a result, a refund of $469,611.60 is warranted for property in the townships of Wyman, Jim Pond, Kibby, Chain of Ponds and Skinner for tax year 2020, according to supervisor Lisa Whynot's letter to Helix. The refund to Helix is expected to be issued within four to six weeks.
TransCanada Maine Wind Development estimated in 2006 the wind farm would be a $250 million to $300 million project. The company sought approval from then-Maine Land Use Regulation Commission to have the area rezoned and for a preliminary development plan to construct the turbines on about 13.7 miles of ridge line on Kibby Mountain and Kibby Range in Kibby Township and a small portion of Skinner Township, near the Canadian border. transmission lines, substation and roads were also involved.
The project was approved in 2008 and the turbines were installed in 2009 and 2010. When the company sought another state permit in 2010 to expand the project, the original wind energy facility was estimated to be a $320 million project. Only the 44-turbine, 132-megawatt facility is connected to the county's TIF.