BNE plans third turbine on Flagg Hill

By Wiley Wood

Assessor Michele Sloane confirmed that the two wind turbines built by BNE Energy in Colebrook in 2015 will be taxed at a value of $13.3 million, making BNE Energy the second-largest property holder in Colebrook. This will increase the town’s grand list, or total value of taxable property, to about $200 million, a 7 percent bump.

The Town of Colebrook engaged an independent energy consultant, Glenn Walker of George Sansoucy LLC, to establish the tax value of the turbines. They are to be considered as real property, with an effective life of 40 years, and taxed at the general mill rate.

The final mill rate will not be set until the annual town meeting in March, but the turbines can be expected to earn the town of Colebrook around $350,000 in tax revenue in the coming year, said Jim Millar, chairman of the Board of Finance.

Greg Zupkus, CEO of BNE Energy, has said that building a third turbine on the Flagg Hill site will be a priority in 2016. The Connecticut Siting Council has already permitted that site for another turbine.

In addition, BNE Energy is reported by HartfordBusiness.com to be planning a 20-megawatt wind farm in northwest Connecticut with as many as nine turbines. Zupkus would only say that he has identified a 5,000-acre parcel for the wind farm within approximately 15 miles of Flagg Hill.