Subscribe to receive our Floor Reports covering all the action on the Texas House and Senate floor!
From the Legislative Budget Board: Passage of the bill would amend Chapters 312 and 313 of the Tax Code to prohibit wind farm owners from receiving a property tax abatement through Chapter 312, or a property tax limitation through Chapter 313, if their wind turbines are located 25 nautical miles or less from a military aviation facility located in Texas. To the extent that wind farm owners subject to the bill's provisions would no longer be eligible to receive a property tax abatement or limitation, related costs to the Foundation School Fund could be decreased through the operation of the school finance formulas.
SB 277 modifies an existing tax incentive program for wind-powered energy production in order to remove an incentive for windmills to be placed within 30 miles of a military aviation facility because windmills can negatively interfere with military aviation. Tax incentives for wind energy distort energy markets and prop up an industry at taxpayer expense that could not otherwise stand on its own merit. To the extent that this bill constricts opportunities for wind-power related subsidies, this bill is a step in the right direction toward limiting government. For these reasons we support SB 277.
On a related note, we would support legislation to altogether do away with the underlying tax incentive program.