SD governor vetoes tax breaks for wind farms

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PIERRE (AP) — Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed a bill that sought to refund about half the construction taxes for large wind energy projects and an environmental upgrade at Big Stone Power Plant.

The bill was passed to provide tax refunds beginning in January 2013, when the current tax refund law expires.

Daugaard says the bill is poorly timed because the Legislature should wait to see whether voters in November approve or reject a more comprehensive incentive plan for construction projects.

The governor also says the bill would discriminate because it would not give tax breaks to smaller wind energy projects. In addition, he says it would use South Dakota money to give benefits to Big Stone's customers in other states.

The Legislature will decide Monday whether to override the governor's veto.

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