Mahanoy official says wind farm should pay tax revenues
The Morning Call|Chris Parker |April 12, 2007
A Mahanoy Township supervisor is asking Schuylkill County commissioners for help in finding out how to get tax revenue from a wind farm. Supervisor Vice Chairman James Stevens on Wednesday told commissioners the county, township and Mahanoy Area School District have seen no tax revenue from Green Energy Products Inc., which began operating in November 2006.
A Mahanoy Township supervisor is asking Schuylkill County commissioners for help in finding out how to get tax revenue from a wind farm. Supervisor Vice Chairman James Stevens on Wednesday told commissioners the county, township and Mahanoy Area School District have seen no tax revenue from Green Energy Products Inc., which began operating in November 2006.
A Mahanoy Township supervisor is asking Schuylkill County commissioners for help in finding out how to get tax revenue from a wind farm.
Supervisor Vice Chairman James Stevens on Wednesday told commissioners the county, township and Mahanoy Area School District have seen no tax revenue from Green Energy Products Inc., which began operating in November 2006.
The wind farm, operated by Joseph and Angel Green on the border of East Union Township, has 13 turbines atop a Mahanoy Township ridge and plans to expand, Stevens said after the meeting.
"I'm all for them, but they're making money, and we're getting nothing," he said.
The Greens did not immediately return telephone calls seeking more information.
Commissioner Robert S. Carl …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]A Mahanoy Township supervisor is asking Schuylkill County commissioners for help in finding out how to get tax revenue from a wind farm.
Supervisor Vice Chairman James Stevens on Wednesday told commissioners the county, township and Mahanoy Area School District have seen no tax revenue from Green Energy Products Inc., which began operating in November 2006.
The wind farm, operated by Joseph and Angel Green on the border of East Union Township, has 13 turbines atop a Mahanoy Township ridge and plans to expand, Stevens said after the meeting.
"I'm all for them, but they're making money, and we're getting nothing," he said.
The Greens did not immediately return telephone calls seeking more information.
Commissioner Robert S. Carl Jr. turned the question over to county Administrator William J. Reppy, who said the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is pursuing legislation that would let local governments tax revenue generated by wind farms.
Association staff liaison Douglas E. Hill also did not immediately return calls.
The Greens in February 2005 told the county Zoning Hearing Board they wanted to eventually build enough of the 380-foot-tall turbines to provide electricity for up to 8,000 homes.
The board approved the project, but restricted it to 13 windmills that must be at least 3,500 feet from homes.
The windmills are in a conservation residential district. Cell phone towers are allowed in such a district by special exception, but there are no regulations for wind turbines in the county.