Wind farm brings windfall for Western Mass. town

The economic impact of 13.5 MW of a 28.5-MW wind farm on the small town of Monroe (population 121) in western Massachusetts is the subject of a recent story in The Recorder, a local newspaper based in Greenfield, Mass.

The Hoosac Wind Power Project, developed by Iberdrola Renewables, LLC, and consisting of 19 1.5-MW wind turbines, will pay the town $108,000 per year in PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) fees, giving a more than 20 percent boost to the town’s normal annual tax revenues of less than $500,000. Nine of the turbines are located in Monroe, with the other 10 in the neighboring town of Florida, Mass.

According to the story: “Iberdrola Renewables spokesman Paul Copleman said during construction, the Hoosac project employed up to 140 workers and spent $3.9 million locally. ‘Over the life of the project, Hoosac will generate approximately $6.8 million in tax revenue for the towns, and lease payment to local landowners (including the towns) will total another $3 million.'”