There are several types of direct economic benefits that wind projects can provide local communities. Because wind facilities pay property taxes, the addition of a wind project to the county property tax rolls reduces the tax burden on residential property owners, potentially lowering their tax bills. In Vermillion County, Apex has also committed to offering the community a “community royalty” for any wind project it builds in the county, with annual payments of 1% of the income the project generates. While the tax revenues will be allocated as dictated by law, community members will decide who should receive and steward the community royalty money. Who do you think should be responsible for distributing and managing community royalty funds (estimated to be about $300,000 per year)?

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