February 1, 2023 |
In the legislature, a bill that is of interest to the wind energy counties of Wyoming made its first appearance in the Senate Tuesday. House Bill 3, which returns legal authority of assessing the valuation of wind farms to the state Department of Revenue, passed the lower chamber earlier this month.
It has been on General File in the Senate since January 19th. The bill was introduced yesterday and assigned to committee.
Pictured above: Wind turbines in Carbon County, Wyoming. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
A similar bill failed to pass the legislature last year, leaving the authority to assess wind energy facilities to county assessors. The majority of the wind energy counties in the state have lobbied to maintain that authority. Wind energy lobbyists have testified that they are more comfortable it the power to assess ad valorem taxes resides with the Wyoming Department of Revenue. The accuracy of state valuations has been one of the debating points throughout the discussion of the bill in House, both in committee and on the floor.
Dave Kinsky of Sheridan is the chairman of the Senate Committee 2, Appropriations.
