Plan may put wind farms in Empire Zones by MARY PERHAM

HAMMONDSPORT | A new state incentive could bring i new revenues to Steuben County, .and the towns and schools in areas pegged for wind farm development. James Sherron, county Industrial Development Agency executive director, recently told the SCIDA "board the state intends to place all existing and proposed wind farms in Empire Zones.

Under the plan, wind farm develbpers would pay their property taxes and then would be reimbursed by the state. The proposal means towns, school districts and the county would receive their full share of taxes from developers.

Currently, the county agency provides some tax breaks that allows developers to pay a reduced amount of their taxes. As a result, local governments don't receive the full amount they are owed.

"This is a real windfall for these towns and schools," said James Griffin, a board member and executive director of the Hornell IDA. "In these rural areas that don't have much of a way to increase their revenues, this is going to make a huge difference."

Sherron said the new incentive requires an amendment to existing state regulations and would not change zones already in place in the county.

He said there was nb estimate how much new revenue placing wind farms in Empire Zones would produce, but guessed it would amount to "millions and millions.'' Steuben County would still . insist wind farm developers conform to environment study requirements, Sherron said.

Sherron said the county can still offer other tax, breaks as an option, or in the event the amendment is vetoed by Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer after he takes office Jan. 1, 2007.

Wind farm development in the county- has been-. the source of controversy since Global Winds first proposed a site in the town of Prattsburgh in 2002. Supporters claim the 400-foot-tall turbines provide an essential source of renewable energy and local revenue. Opponents charge the .turbines do not generate significant amounts of electricity and threaten people and the environment. Sherron told the board the proposed developments throughout the county are picking up speed, particularly in the town of Prattsburgh where the first two projects were proposed.

Sherron said EcoGen wants to break ground for a 53-turbine project this spring but must submit environmental studies on each site for review. A lawsuit filed by residents of the town against EcoGen and SCIDA is still being considered by the state appellate court, said SCIDA Attorney John Leyden.

The other Prattsburgh developer, Global Winds, is ready to submit its final environmental impact statement on its 44-turbtne wind farm to SCIDA in January, Sherron said.

The two developers are rivals for the same turf, since a nearby power substation can only accommodate energy, from one wind farm.

Developers fpr separate projects in the towns of Hornby, Howard, and Hartsville and Hornellsville, are completing their draft environmental studies, Sherron told the board.

The town of Howard is now being sued by four residents who claim the town should not have named SCIDA as the chief supervisor of the project.

Howard successfully defended an earlier legal challenge some board members owned land being considered for turbines and were illegally using their position to encourage developers and promote, personal financial gain.

Plans in Hartsville are unsettled since the uproar over wind farm development there led to the recent resignations of the town supervisor and deputy supervisor.