Proposed wind turbine tax in Idaho aims to go ‘gangster’ on such projects

• Idaho lawmakers are considering a bill that would impose a potential $25,000 per foot excise tax on commercial wind turbines over 100 feet tall. According to the Department of Energy, the average height of a commercial wind turbine is 339 feet, which would result in a tax of approximately $8.5 million per turbine.
• Supporters argue the tax would generate revenue for local communities, including school funding, while critics warn it could hinder business operations and set a precedent for other industries.
• The bill is set for a full public hearing in the Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee, where testimony from constituents will be considered.

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Wind energy developers in Idaho could soon face significant additional costs under new legislation being considered by state lawmakers. This week, the Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee introduced a bill that would impose an excise tax on commercial wind turbines across the state.

“How big is that excise tax?” asked state Republican Rep. Ted Hill, who serves on the committee. “Are we going to go gangster on it and really make it hardcore? That’s what we want to hear.”

What does this bill aim to do?

House Bill 317, if passed, would require voter input from any county where a wind power project is proposed. If a majority of voters in the county reject the project, a countywide tax on turbines would be implemented.

The proposed tax would amount to $25,000 per foot of height for any commercial wind turbine standing at least 100 feet tall. According to the Department of Energy, the average height of a commercial wind turbine is 339 feet, which would result in a tax of approximately $8.5 million per turbine. The tallest proposed turbines in Idaho have a maximum height of 660 feet, meaning they would face a tax of $16.5 million each.

What are Idaho lawmakers saying?

Supporters of the measure argue that the tax would help ensure revenue from wind energy projects contributes to local communities, including funding for school district facilities.

Meanwhile, Idaho Democrats have raised concerns about the economic impact of the proposal, questioning whether such taxation could hinder legal business operations and set a precedent for similar policies affecting other industries.

What happens next?

The bill will now return to the Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee for a full public hearing, during which testimony from constituents will be considered.