Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that it is now official, an extended, 20-year tax break has been given to the New Athens Generating Company, commonly referred to as Athens Gen. Usually, tax breaks are given to companies to lure them to an area, but Athens Gen power plant has been getting a tax break from Greene County for years. Even though members of the public consistently showed up against the tax break at several public hearings, the Town of Athens, the Catskill Central School District, the Greene County Legislature, and the Greene County Industrial Development Agency all signed off on the tax break. The story does not say how much less Athens Gen is paying in taxes. Greene County Legislator Ed Bloomer was just about the only local official to oppose the project, even though he did not. While he voted no, he said he favored the tax break. Bloomer said, “If this PILOT goes forward, I feel it would be a positive benefit for all parties. I think it is the best way to go… There is a significant volume of people in Athens who disagree with that―people I respect, being far more learned than I am. I want to honor their voice. I vote a reluctant no.” Read the full story in Porcupine Soup.