Wind Energy Taxation Systems
Local taxes can be the main way for a whole community to benefit from a wind energy project. Property taxes, production taxes, or other payments made by wind turbine owners can provide significant new revenue to schools and local governments.
Local Government Revenue from Wind
Projects around the Country
Location MW installed Revenue $/MW
Worth County, IA
80 MW $500,000 $6,250/MW
Gray County, KS* 112.2 MW $330,000 $2,914/MW
Lincoln County, MN (2003) 155 MW $471,822 $3,044/MW
Fenner, NY* 30 MW $150,000 $5,000/MW
Umatilla County, OR 108 MW $893,098 $8,269/MW
Upton County, TX 353 MW $3,600,000 $10,198/MW
Pecos County, TX 402.5 MW $4,700,000 $11,677/MW
Walla Walla County, WA 219.6 MW $1,500,000 $6,831/MW
Lee County, IL 50.4 MW $350,000 $6,944/MW
* Payments in lieu of taxes
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, January 2004 Briefing Paper, Vol. 12, No. 5 and Lincoln County, Minnesota.
