ALBERONA RESIDENTS SAY GOODBYE TO TAXES THANKS TO WIND-ENERGY
(AGI) - Foggia, Apr. 28 - The residents of Alberona, a town in the province of Foggia, will soon be paying no local property, income and waste-disposal taxes as the local town council faces huge returns from the town's second wind-energy plant. The plant, which will be built on nearby hills, is set to change the residents' lives for the better. "The environmental impact of the second plant will be minimal", said mayor Arturo Petti, "whereas the benefits will be enormous for all". The older plant, managed by an Avellino-based company called IVPC, already provides the local council with returns for 150,000 euro every month. But that's nothing compared to the revenues which the 60 new wind-energy towers which will be planted over the next few months are expected to generate. "Each year, our council's budget will be bolstered by some 1.25 mln euro of royalties", said Mr Petti. "It's a whopping figure, which equals our cash returns generated by taxes. And that's only half of the story, as the companies managing both plants will pay an extra 10,000 euro contribution to finance eco-friendly and social programmes. Plus, they will pay us some 1.25 mln euro as a one-off". This will make it possible to reimburse Alberona citizens of their energy bills. The council will also be able to abolish local property, income and waste-disposal taxes. Students and employees will travel to their workplaces or schools for free, and each family whose children attend a local school will receive a 1,000 euro cheque from the council. Further plans include upgrading local infrastructure to benefit artisans and small-sized firms, as well as an old people's cafeteria and a social centre for young and elderly people. In a written commitment with the citizens, the mayor has pledged to carry out all of the above. He says: "We will even abolish waste-disposal taxes and build new roads and a kennel". Hopefully, the new plant will halt the process of emigration, which has long affected Alberona citizens. "For each new child born of an Alberona-based family, the council will pay a 1,000 euro contribution". And maintenance on the plant will be performed by hiring Alberona residents alone. (AGI) .
282003 APR 05
