Revenues to Local Economy - Governments
Renewable Energy Keeps Money in Wisconsin
Unlike the cost of fossil fuels, money spent on renewable energy developed in the state stays in the state. Wind farms have become a boon to local economies, creating another source of income for farmers and adjacent landowners and providing payments to towns and counties in lieu of property taxes.
For example, in Fond du Lac and Dodge Counties these annual payments to both landowners and local governments totaled nearly $2.8 million in 2010.5 This revenue was used to pay Fond du Lac County’s bills, offsetting increases in property taxes.
Payments from WE Energies Glacier Hills project are expected to provide nearly $1,318,000 annually to Columbia County and surrounding townships in 2012.
Similar benefits are estimated for other units of local government, as shown in this table:
| Project | Towns | Counties | Annual Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Hills | Randolph, Scott | Columbia | $ 648,000 |
| Blue Sky Green Field | Marshfield, Calumet |
Fond du Lac | $ 580,000 |
| Forward | Byron, Oakfield, Leroy, Lomira |
Fond du Lac, Dodge | $ 516,000 |
| Cedar Ridge | Eden, Empire | Fond du Lac | $270,000 |
| Butler Ridge | Herman | Dodge | $ 216,000 |
| Shirley | Brown | $80,000 | |
| Total | $2,310,000 |
Revenues to Local Economy - Total 2012
| Project | Counties | Governments | Landowners | Combined Payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Hills | Columbia | $648,000 | $675,000 | $1,318,000 |
| Blue Sky Green Field | Fond du Lac | $580,000 | $440,000 | $1,020,000 |
| Forward | Fond du Lac, Dodge | $516,000 | $430,000 | $ 946,000 |
| Cedar Ridge | Fond du Lac | $270,000 | $205,000 | $ 477,000 |
| Butler Ridge | Dodge | $216,000 | $180,000 | $ 396,000 |
| Shirley | Brown | $80,000 | $80,000 | $ 160,000 |
| Total | $2,310,000 | $2,010,000 | $4,320,000 |