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<br />Urban Wind Turbines <br /> <br />By Erica Heller <br /> <br />Wind is an abundant renewable resource in much of the U.S. <br /> <br /> <br />] <br />~ <br />i <br /> <br />ill <br />o <br />"0 <br />o <br />o <br />~ <br />. <br />~ <br />e <br />'" <br />I <br />g <br />~ <br />o <br />o <br />o <br />>- <br />. <br />o <br />o <br />u <br /> <br />As wind power development expands, tech- <br />nologies are being developed and improved <br />to increase efficiency and reduce impacts. A <br />range of new turbines (wind energy conver- <br />sion systems, or WECs) enable wind power to <br />be harnessed in a much wider variety of set- <br />tings than ever before, including in urban and <br />suburban settings. <br />Many local governments that have never <br />processed an application for a wind turbine <br />permit may find themselves needing to review <br />cine in coming years. In fact, most of these <br /> <br />communities are unprepared to review these <br />permits and lack the standards to ensure safe <br />installation in compatible locations. This can <br />result in lengthy, costly public review <br />processes that yield mixed results. <br /> <br />SMALL WIND <br />uSmall wind" refers to turbines rated 100 kW <br />or less that can be used to power farms, <br />homes, or businesses. The vast majority of <br />nonrural applications for wind are small WECs, <br />sited as accessory uses to a primary business <br /> <br />62 <br /> <br />or residential use. The photo on the left <br />shows a 100 kW WEC located at the offices of <br />the International Brotherhood of Electrical <br />Workers Local 103 in Dorchester, Massa- <br />chusetts-this is as big as "small" wind gets. <br />A WEe used at a residence (such as that <br />shown on page 4) is typically smaller-up to <br />10 kW and about 50 to 80 feet high (depend- <br />ing on a number of factors, as will be dis- <br />~ussed). Even smaller WECs may be used for <br />targeted applications, such as the systems <br />shown on page 5, which are mounted on light <br />poles to offset power used by the lights in a <br />shopping center parking lot in Lakewood, <br />Colorado. Rooftop models, often used in <br />rows, are a newer type of small wind that is <br />growing in popularity for commercial applica- <br />tions and urban areas. <br /> <br />URBANIZED SETIlNGS <br />This article focuses on incorporating small <br />WECs in urbanized settings. The science of <br />small wind is the same across urban and rural <br />settings, and the discussion here may also be <br />useful for planners in rural areas. However, <br />this article does not specifically address rural <br />settings. Within urbanized settings, there are <br />a variety of zoning districts in which WECs <br />may be appropriate, including industrial, com- <br />mercial, and even residential neighborhoods, <br />as the images in this article depict. Successful <br />integration of WECs in densely built environ- <br />ments requires careful examination of poten- <br />tial impacts and thoughtful standards that <br />balance mitigation against the cost effective- <br />ness of installing a turbine. <br /> <br />POWER FROM SMALL WECS <br />Plan,ners often askif small WECS produce <br />enough energy to justify both installation <br /> <br />ZONINGPRACTlCE 7.08 . <br />AMERICAN plANNiNG ASSOCIATION I page 2 <br />