Oak Park Newspaper

Harmon: Wind Farm Property Tax Relief will boost Renewable Energy Investment, Production

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A new law signed by Governor Pat Quinn Wednesday will help grow Illinois' green economy and promote investment in renewable energy, according to Senate sponsor Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).

"Providing property tax relief for wind farm developers means more renewable energy production and an incentive to expand wind farms, creating more investment and green jobs," said Senator Harmon. "As our economy continues to bounce back from recession and we see the growing need for renewable energy in light of the BP Gulf oil disaster, this is a good step in the right direction on both of those issues."

House Bill 4797, sponsored by Senator Harmon and Representative Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley), changes the property tax code to make the assessment of wind energy devices consistent statewide, allowing developers to better anticipate their tax assessments at any wind farm in Illinois. It will take effect January 1, 2011.

The American Wind Energy Association says Illinois' wind energy capacity statewide stands at 1,848 megawatts, with another 437 megawatts coming soon via wind energy operations under construction, ranking Illinois sixth in the United States. The state's goals are for 25% of Illinois utility power to come from renewable sources by 2025; 75% of that must be from wind energy.