We know they are a robust solution in the face of weather, on-site during disasters, and provide local jobs. Not to mention, a big step towards community self-sufficiency.
(Which is likely why the corporatist establishment drags their feet on them -- very hard to separate people from their necessities and extort large profits that way. Though to be fair, reworking the entire electrical grid to a "fabric" topology is no small task.)
But here's another perk: as energy prices bouy these projects won't need sweetheart tax breaks anymore.
That means your property taxes could go downBecause a business within your town borders pays in.
Orangeville, Ontario The 45 turbines of the Melancthon wind farm have added $2.7 million to the previously near-zero value of the township's industrial tax base, according to CAO/Clerk Denise Holmes. The figure is based on the provincially mandated $40,000 per megawatt of installed capacity, which means that each turbine is arbitrarily fixed at a $60,000 assessment for the turbine itself, the pad, and the access road. ... Melancthon is receiving $41,270 in total taxes from the plant. This includes $29,650 for the turbines themselves, $3,840 for buildings, and $8,230 for "roads and miscellaneous." Amaranth already would receive $6,670 for substation and roads. Dufferin County gets $44,740, and the boards of education get $103,825.
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2006/0629/Regional_news/006.html(link is to full article, but creds to REA for uplinking the story:
http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=45378...who incidentally have an interesting industry analysys article about weening wind power off tax credits.
http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=45068)