The Grant County Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to declare a proposed $180 million wind farm an economic revitalization area, making the company eligible to receive a tax break in the first 10 years.
German energy company E.On Climate & Renewables plans to place up to 60 wind turbines on more than 8,000 acres of Grant County farmland leased by the company.
Council members asked E.On Assistant Development Manager Andy Melka many questions, but also were excited about the project.
The next step toward E.On receiving a tax abatement for its Wildcat Wind Farm II will be a public hearing during the county council’s April 20 meeting.
The council can then vote on whether to phase in property taxes on the wind towers over 10 years.
E.On would pay no property taxes in the first year of the abatement. Taxes would increase gradually in subsequent years until the 11th year, when the company would pay its full portion of property taxes.
Melka said the company is optimistic it will receive the economic incentive.
“We see nothing in the way of getting it passed at the next council meeting,” he said.
The wind turbines planned for Grant County are part of a much larger E.On wind farm in central Indiana, which would stretch over about 35,000 acres in Grant, Howard, Madison and Tipton counties.
Construction is likely to begin in 2013, the company has said. E.On has negotiated long-term leases with property owners in Franklin, Green, Liberty and Sims townships.
The county’s wind tower ordinance requires a 1,000-foot setback, but Melka said E.On intends to build its towers another 250 feet farther from houses.
The wind towers in Grant County could stand up to 470 feet tall, he said. Towers would be spaced about four to six towers per square mile, he said.
The towers here will be taller than others operated in the state to better capture the wind, Melka said.
The wind farm should produce 100 megawatts of electricity — enough to power 30,000 homes — but Melka said that amount is insignificant to lower electric rates.
Councilwoman Tresa Baker, R-At large, wanted to know who would be responsible for the towers if E.On goes bankrupt.
Before E.On can get building permits for the Wildcat farm, the company must show it is bonded to cover decommissioning and removing towers if the company ceased to exist, Melka said.
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