Consultant says wind farms provide money for nothing

Whitman County taxing districts stand to reap millions of dollars in tax revenue with little or no increased costs if large scale wind farms are sited here. So said an Ellensburg wind advocate to county officials last Thursday.

“Everyone is recognizing this is a private economic stimulus for the county,” said Debbie Strand, spokesperson for WindWorks! Northwest. “Wind farms provide a large amount of economic activity and tax revenue for local taxing districts.”

“And the turbines don’t go to school. They don’t commit crimes. They don’t demand any services,” she added.

Strand briefed local officials on the economic advantages wind farms have provided to government agencies around Ellensburg and Vantage at Port of Whitman commissioners regular meeting.

Debbie Snell, port properties and development manager, said Strand contacted her about setting up a meeting with county officials to discuss wind policy. Present at the meeting were port commissioners, county planning staff and County Commissioner Pat O’Neill.

Strand said WindWorks! sent her to Whitman County to spotlight the economic benefits of wind farms.

“We’ve heard you’re working on an ordinance. We have heard there’s been some prospecting. And we’ve also heard there’s been some opposition,” said Strand.

WindWorks! Northwest is an advocacy group that works for government approval of wind power projects. The group bills itself as the counter to “NIMBY opposition” and tours the northwest to present information about the economic benefits derived by areas with wind farms.

Strand put forth numbers Whitman County could receive from a 100 megawatt wind farm.

Such a project, she said, could create 150 jobs during construction and 23 permanent jobs over the life of the project.

The project could also contribute more than $30 million in payroll to local businesses and $2 million-plus in property taxes.

“Are you going to show up for the public hearings on our ordinance?” asked County Planner Alan Thomson, referring to future hearings on Whitman County’s recently crafted commercial wind ordinance. “And bring some friends with you.”

A similarly sized wind farm will be the Vantage Wind project, which is being built by Chicago-based Invenergy Wind North America. The project will place 60 390-foot turbines on a 4,500-acre property seven miles west of Vantage. Construction is currently underway.

Strand said property taxes from that wind farm are projected to annually add $338,173 to county coffers and $160,380 to the state.

She said the Vantage project was initially turned down by Kittitas County commissioners because of public outcry.

When the housing market hit the tank, public sentiment – and support of elected officials - turned in favor of the wind farm. She added most of the opposition came from Puget Sound residents who owned second homes in Kittitas County.

Again stressing the idea that wind farms are private stimulus for rural counties, Strand pointed out they are a steady stream of tax revenue for local governments, schools, fire districts and landowners.

“We’re not going to get the Microsofts or the Boeings in rural Washington,” she said.

Strand added land owners usually receive $5,000 to $10,000 per turbine in site lease payments.