The Galloo Island Wind project won the final local approval for a 'Payment In Lieu Of Taxes' agreement Thursday morning.

However, the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency was divided on the deal, 4-2.

"We get our credibility from the trust of the community," said board member John Doldo Jr. "I think it's at risk right now."

"It's economic development for the county as a whole," shot backfellow board member Kent Burto. "We need to keep that in mind."

Estimates vary on the value of the agreement, but it is worth at least $50 million over 20 years, with the money divided between Jefferson County, the Town of Hounsfield and the Sackets Harbor school district.

Now the developer can seek financing, knowing how much the wind project will get in tax breaks.

The big win for the project was Tuesday night, when Jefferson County legislators voted 8-7 to approve the payment deal.

Legislators voted before an overflow crowd who packed the legislature chambers and lined the hall outside.

"I truly, truly feel this is something that is very good for the economics of Jefferson County and for the environment," said Julia Gosier, one of the people at the meeting who supported the payment agreement.

The 'economics' were sweetened at the last minute. 

In a letter to legislators from legislature chairman Ken Blankenbush Tueesday afternoon, Blankenbush disclosed three changes.

Blankenbush revealed the developer - Upstate NY Power Corporation - will donate $3,000,000 over the life of the 20 year agreement to a "community fund" that will be used by charities.

Another $500,000 will go to scholarships for high school seniors.

In addition, the developer pledges 75 percent of the labor for the project will be local, with 50 percent of it union.

Finally, Blankenbush presented legislators with a resolution that will route the power from Galloo Island through the Coffeen Street sub-station in Watertown.

"Obviously, most of the concerns raised by both Hendrson residents and those residing in Oswego County would be eliminated..." Blankenbush writes. The path of the proposed power line from the project has been controversial.

"I do believe that in the end I did the right thing," said legislator Barry Ormsby, who voted for the agreement and who helped negotiate some of the changes.

"We worked diligently to mitigate any of the impacts."

Opponents of the payment agreement believe it is too long and too generous to the developer, and also want uniform rules for all payment agreements involving wind farms.

"I really do not believe this developer was going to walk away from this project. They have a substantial subsidy from the federal government," said Rob Alassio, who opposed the agreement.

Legislator Scott Gray, who led the argument against the agreement, said "It is what it is. We'll pick up the pieces and move on from here."