County commissioners approve tax abatement for proposed wind farm

County commissioners approved Monday, March 11 a draft agreement with La Casa Wind, LLC for a tax abatement agreement regarding a proposed wind farm in Stephens County.

The agreement will allow La Casa an annual PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) payment of at least $445,051 for the 10-year abatement period. That payment amount is considered to be the floor amount.

The total amount owed each year will be the greater of 50% of all property taxes abated by the agreement or $445,051.

“I’ve had several people tell me they’re going to get away without paying taxes. Well no, they’re not,” Stephens County Judge Michael Roach said. “They’re going to pay taxes and they’re going to pay a lot of them.”

Roach said the abatement accounts for 1.5% of the entire cost of the project.

“Our granting an abatement does not build the wind farm,” Roach said. “That wind farm is coming to Stephens County. How can we regulate it. That was the direction we are ultimately choosing.”

The agreement also stipulates a $50,000 charitable donation to a Stephens County organization designated by the court each year. Commissioners said that the public will have a say in where the donation goes to each year.

The county and NextEra Energy Resources, parent company to La Casa Wind, have agreed to minimum taxable value of improvement inside the reinvestment zone that was approved last year.

Beginning in 2025 the minimum taxable value will be $210 million and that value decreased to $52.5 million by the end of the 10-year period.

Inside the road use agreement in the draft tax abatement agreement, La Casa will be required to submit a “Road Use Plan” at least 180 days prior to the commencement of construction.

The plan will include the expected commencement of construction date, contact information for a representative of La Casa to ensure compliance, a site plan that includes a location of all improvements including points of access, approximate location, plans and timing for widening any county roads.

Any roads used will be upgraded to Federal Emergency Administration Standards.

La Casa will not be allowed to completely close off any county roads without county consent and will be required to give at least 72 hours’ notice if a road needs closed.

La Casa agrees to hold a job fair in Breckenridge advertising construction employment positions.
The company will be required to publish a notice in the Breckenridge American announcing the date, time and location of the job fair.

Prior to filling the first full-time position for the on-site operation of the improvements, La Casa will be required to publish notice of the position in the Breckenridge American.

Any position requiring more than 35 hours per week will be considered full time.

If La Casa violates the publication requirement, it will be required to pay the county 25% of the gross salary of that position.

La Casa agrees to provide at least one new full-time job in connection with the operation of the improvements. This provision exempts internal transfers and promotions. La Casa also agrees to allow the county to conduct on-site inspections with 72 hours of advance written notice.

According to Roach, any changes to the draft agreement will come following a future public meeting.

The vote took place following a three-hour long public hearing in which several members of the public spoke against the tax abatement agreement.

The Breckenridge American will cover the full public hearing online.