To mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the operation of the Prairie Breeze Wind Energy Center, Operations Manager Luke Hinkle presented a check to the Boone County Board of Commissioners during the board meeting held in Albion Monday, June 8th. The wind farm, which is part of Invenergy out of Chicago, will also present a check to the Antelope County Board on Tuesday, June 9th. In a press release prior to the presentations, Invenergy stated, "We’re proud to be a contributing community member, and we appreciate the community’s support for our wind farm." Since May 4, 2014, the date the wind farm was commissioned, through December 31, 2014, Prairie Breeze Wind Energy contributed $75,339.00 in nameplate city taxes, and $27,807.00 in 2014 property taxes, for a total payment of $103,146.00 to Boone County. The company contributes more than $3 million annually to area’s economic development, through property tax payments, staff salaries, and landowner payments, and is one of the largest taxpayers in Antelope and Boone Counties. The company is currently constructing the Prairie Breeze Wind Energy Center Expansion Project, consisting of two phases: Prairie Breeze II, which commenced in March of this year, with 13 turbines in Boone County and 28 in Antelope County, and the Prairie Breeze III wind farm, which will begin construction this summer and have 20 turbines in Antelope County. |