US: LafargeHolcim’s plans for a solar power station for its Hagerstown cement plant have stalled, after Washington County denied its contractor Greenbacker Renewable Energy Corp the expected tax break for the project.
A break from personal property tax levied on equipment, of the sort granted to other solar energy projects, would have resulted in taxes of approximately US$1.6m instead of US$2.9m over its 25 years in effect, CommsMEA has reported. The County’s decision hinged on debates over the number of long-term jobs created by the project. Greenbacker previously argued that the long-term job security of LafargeHolcim’s 108 Hagerstown employees was embellished by the move towards improved sustainability and the stabilisation of energy costs.
The motion, proposed by Commissioner Randy Wagner, failed for lack of a second. This followed after a commissioner recused himself from proceedings because, as a financial advisor, he stood to benefit from the project through the investments of his clients.
