Solar and Wind Energy

September 19, 2012

NC DOR Michael Brown

Dave Duty

Where Are We Currently?

N.C. Wind Projects Stalled; Buyers, Activists Blamed

• Stalled projects:- Invenergy has yet to apply for a state permit for its Hales Lake project of more than 100 turbines in Camden and Currituck counties.

- In Beaufort County, the Pantego project, consisting of 49 turbines, is on indefinite hold as further studies are done on migrating swans and geese.

- In Pasquotank County, - Atlantic Wind LLC's 150-turbine farm - has yet to begin construction because the company is waiting to find a buyer of the electricity it would produce.

• Source: PilotOnline.com, Aug. 4, 2012

Transporting the Blades

Wind Power Facts• Tower height: range from 200 to 300 feet

• Blade length: range from 66 to 130 feet, or more, usually having three blades

• A 1.5 MW turbine is 260 ft. tall. The rotor assembly (blades and hub) weighs 48, 000 lbs. The nacelle, generator component weights 115,000 lbs. The concrete for the tower is 58, 000 lbs. of reinforcing steel and 250 cubic yards of concrete. The base is 50 feet in diameter and 8 ft. thick near the center.

• Source: Wikipedia

Source: http://www.appstate.edu/~js77542/REI-Broyhill-wind.html

Example Solar Farm

• South Robeson Farm Project – 6.4 MW• Rowland, Robeson NC• Output - South Robeson produces

approximately 8,880 MWh of electricity a year, which is the same amount of energy used by 1,000 average homes in North Carolina.

Robeson County

Robeson County

Street Overpass in Raleigh

Business Rooftops

Residential

Government/Private Venture

Market Value

• Value the land as commercial property using your schedule of values from your most recent reappraisal. Add any value for improvements made to the land.

Present-Use ValueBusiness Entity Ownership Issue

• For property owned by a business entity that may convert some of the property to a solar farm the “principal business” requirement still applies.

• So, the income from the farming and solar farm may need to be reviewed to determine if the property still qualifies for present-use value.

Present-Use ValueAssuming Property is in PUV

• Land that is in present-use value program and the land is sold to a non-qualifying owner the rollback will be due.

• Land is no longer in production of agricultural, horticultural or forest land the rollback will be due. This could be any fenced off area or base area of wind turbine.

Solar Farming, Sheep and Present-Use Value

• Can sheep and solar farms exist in present-use value?

• If the land that is converted to a solar farm and stays in production raising sheep, then our opinion is yes.

• This is to be reviewed on a case by case basis.• Other animals may qualify, currently we are only

aware of situations where sheep are being used.

Just to Clarify the Issue.

• Solar panels are high enough off the ground for animals to freely graze under.

• Fencing is around the perimeter of the solar farm is okay. Fencing which prevents the animals from grazing under the panels is not.

• This only relates to production, assuming that all other requirements of PUV have been met.

Solar Farms and Sheep

Solar Farms and Sheep

Contact Information

NC Department of Revenue919.733.7711

Michael Brownmichael.brown@dornc.com

David Dutydavid.duty@dornc.com