Board hires consultants for wind farm TIFs
January 14, 2010
DIXFIELD — Selectmen unanimously voted to hire the Augusta firm of Eaton Peabody Consulting Group to study the financial impact to the town if it enters into a tax incentive financing agreement with a company studying the area for a possible wind turbine farm.
The consulting work must not exceed $10,000, and will be paid by the wind turbine company, Patriot Renewables LLC of Quincy, Mass.
Mathew Eddy, executive director of the consulting firm, told the board Monday night that the firm will help officials and the public understand how a TIF works, how a tax shift may take place, and other impacts such an agreement might make on taxable property and tax rates.
"This will help you make a good decision," he told the board.
Selectmen will make the final decision on whether to grant a tax incentive financing agreement to Patriot Renewables.
That time, however, could be as much as two years away, Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said Tuesday afternoon.
The wind farm firm is currently measuring the amount of wind on the ridge that includes Colonel Holman Mountain, and has proposed constructing up to 20 turbines.
The agreement rankled some in the crowd at Monday's board meeting.
"That's like letting the snake in the back door," said resident Kelly Sastamoine.
Resident Tom Powell also objected to the agreement because he said it violated the six-month moratorium residents placed on wind farms three months ago.
Selectman Jim Desjardins, however, said contracting with Eaton Peabody is part of the town's research on the advantages or disadvantages of wind farms.
"I'd like to know what this could do or not do for the town," he said. "Are we going to react or be proactive? The people of this town will make the final decision."
Selectman Norine Clarke also advocated for the study.
"We need to know how to deal with this. If we don't, the state will make the decision," she said.
Clarke and Selectman Steve Donahue are currently developing an ordinance that would govern wind farms. It also must be approved by townspeople.
Eddy said he expects the study to be completed within two months. Then, a public informational session on how TIFs work will be held.
Skibitsky said the timing of the informational session will likely coincide with the expiration of the moratorium. The board can extend the moratorium for an additional six months if it believes such action is in the best interest of the town.
Courtesy of the Sun Journal
Eileen M. Adams, Staff Writer
eadams@sunjournal.com