West Virginia Senate Energy Committee Approves Bill to Increase Property Tax on Wind Farms

The West Virginia Senate Energy Committee recently approved a measure that aims to raise the tax on wind farms throughout the state. Currently, a significant portion of wind turbines and towers are classified as pollution-control facilities and taxed as personal property at salvage value. However, Senate Bill 231 proposes to remove the favorable pollution-control assessment treatment and tax wind turbines, towers, and their attached components as real property. If passed in its current state, the bill is expected to generate an additional $6.1 million in annual property tax revenue. While the bill aims to generate additional property tax revenue, it has sparked contrasting perspectives among stakeholders such as whether the tax burden would shift from wind project owners to landowners.

The renewable energy experts at Ryan continue to monitor these proposed changes across the country and encourage you to reach out with any questions. In addition, you can view our comprehensive interactive map backed by extensive jurisdictional research, local knowledge, and relationships in the industry, showcasing valuation methodologies used by the assessing authorities across the country.

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