Science
(2009-06-17)
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COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
One Kansas company wants to bring alternative energy to Missouri in a big way. KBIA's Robert Kessler has the story.
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TradeWind Energy's Shuteye Creek Wind Project would harness Missouri's wind power and translate it into energy for homes. The project seeks to place turbines on 30 thousand acres of land in Sullivan and Adair Counties.
Phil Tate is the Executive Director of Kirksville Regional Economic Development Incorporated, or K-REDI. He calls the new prospect "exciting."
"Wind generation would bring economic development to the county; to Adair County as well as Sullivan and maybe Putnam."
Tate says the new development would have a major economic impact in the area. The deal, however, is not yet finalized in Adair County. Adair County Commissioner Carson Adams says the groups are still talking.
"Probably about a month and a half we've been talking to them every two to three weeks and right now we're just getting into it tentatively."
TradeWind Energy suggests creating an enterprise zone in Adair County. An enterprise zone gives tax credits to businesses from a specific industry within a specified region. In this case, TradeWind Energy is suggesting a one-hundred percent tax abatement or exemption. A measure Tate says could be effective but must be researched extensively first.
"Tax abatement can be a very useful economic development tool, but it should be used sparingly and it should be used wisely."
Adams says TradeWind will definitely not receive a one-hundred percent exemption.
The turbines would be placed only on private land and according to Adams, land owners would be paid $600 per tower on their property.
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