 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
small wind Permitting Small Wind
Turbines:
The handbook is a valuable resource for counties and residents outside California, providing up-to-date information to address the most common issues raised in response to small wind turbine installations, including visual impacts, acoustics, concern for wildlife, and property values. It concludes with a model small wind zoning ordinance AWEA recommends all counties across the country adopt, and provides recommendations for best practices with a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” for counties reviewing small wind permit applications. Small wind turbine owners have often faced daunting tasks in sorting through an array of siting considerations and confusing regulations, having to seek out various authorities for information. AWEA and the Energy Commission hope that this handbook will help turbine owners and planning officials integrate small wind energy systems into communities across the nation. As the recent blackouts in the Northeast make clear, distributed generation solutions are needed to help ease congestion on transmission grids. “This handbook fills a long-standing need for information about small wind turbines and how local agencies make sure prospective turbine owners are treated fairly in obtaining permits for their machines. The California Energy Commission deserves a lot of credit for taking the initiative to make it happen,” comments AWEA Deputy Executive Director Tom Gray. The landmark handbook is built on lessons learned in a state that has made significant efforts to promote small wind turbine development. It uses specific case studies and county ordinances to illustrate the progress that has been made, highlight personal experiences, and recommend solutions that could simplify permitting processes in the future. Noteworthy sections include:
As part of the project, AWEA prepared a ranking of windy acreage by county and zip code based on the new wind maps developed by the California Energy Commission. “Permitting Small Wind Turbines” was written by AWEA’s Small Wind Advocate Team, in cooperation with Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (NW SEED).
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|