The Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency on Thursday passed a resolution beginning its involvement in ongoing negotiations related to bringing a wind energy project to the towns of Fairfield, Norway and Little Falls.
The project consists of 37 wind turbines, 14 miles of gravel access road, 20 miles of buried electrical lines and an operation facility, the resolution states.
The resolution’s estimated project cost for the company: $200 million.
County officials and board members in the towns and school districts affected by the project have all been involved in negotiations with the interested company, Iberdrola Renewable Energies.
At stake: How much local governments get paid by the company in lieu of taxes.
The county legislature last November adopted a resolution setting the annual payment in lieu of taxes on wind energy projects at $8,000 per megawatt.
Frank Matthews, Fairfield supervisor, has said this per megawatt payment on 40 turbines equals $640,000.
With the agreement spanning 20 years, the potential overall benefit to the county, towns and schools: $12.8 million, according to county figures related to the resolution.
Prior sharing agreements had accepted a split of the yearly payment: 20 percent for the county, and 40 percent each to the towns and schools, Judy Gokey, Norway supervisor, has said.
Over the last year, however, negotiations have moved at a “glacial” pace due to the scope of the project, IDA members explained Thursday.
Members of the IDA hope the benefits they can offer will help speed up the process.
See the whole story in Friday's edition of The Evening Telegram.
