Though some Illinois residents first balked at the idea of wind turbines being erected in their community, the renewable energy project has proved fruitful for schools throughout the district. For Bureau Valley School District, a recent wind energy project resulted in a substantial increase in the district tax base, according to the News Tribune.
The piece states that when Geronimo Energy announced it was building the 194-megawatt Green River Wind Farm, company officials said it would create $35 million in new taxes over a 20-year period. Though not all of that will go to Bureau Valley, the rural district is getting a piece of that $1.7-million-per-year pie. The new wind turbines are also expected add almost 20% to the districtwide equalized assessed value.
Bureau Valley also receives some of the taxes from a neighboring wind farm, and also a portion of taxes from some of the turbines in older wind farms from more distant towns.
Earlier this month, Ameresco, Inc., an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced that it has completed an energy efficiency project with Lynwood Unified School District in Lynwood, California. The energy efficiency measures will save the district $4.3 million in utility costs over the next 15 years.
