Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/06/2009

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"By placing these windmills where many people can see them, (people] will be able to learn about and experience alternative energy as part of their daily lives. ~ - Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell Monopole Tower Lattice Tower . Guyed Monopole Tower 3. Aesthetics: To function, wind turbines must be tall and unobstructed, which means that. they will likely be visible at some distance (see p. 6). It is also a fact that some people object to their appearance. However, legislating "taste" becomes a difficult task - and an inappropriate one for any authority other than a homeowners' association (and even homeowners' associations may wish to create policies that prohibit aesthetics from entering the debate). Regulating aesthetics requires balancing the perceived or desired character of a community; the public and private benefits of clean, renewable energy; and property rights of all parties. Advocates say that small wind turbines are icons of th'e American rural landscape, dating back to the 1920s, and that today they have again emerged as a symbol of independence and a cleaner future. They argue that so long as a turbine is installed safely, . particularly on private property, they should be allowed. System owners compare the aesthetics of their turbine to that of a street lamp, utility pole, or flag pole, and like? flag on a flagpole, a turbine only moves or makes ~ sound when the wind blows (see "Sound," p. 11). Advocates also point to precedent, noting that communities already accept water towers, buildings, billboards, relay towers, cell phone towers, utility poles and lines, grain silos, and radio antennas as part of the landscape. But the aesthetic impact of wind turbines may be unacceptable in areas with historic significance where aesthetics play an important role in a district's long-established character. Opponents say that their height and movement are a distractive and unpleasant sight and visually intrude on their rights as property owners. Both views are based on emotion, however, not fact. As such, aesthetics are often a very sensitive issue and policymakers should take care to address any concerns fairly. Small turbines are designed to blend in with their surroundings as much as possible. Studies show that turbines best blend into the sky when painted the factory-default color. Manufacturers avail themselves of expertise to determine how to prevent their turbines from standing out like a sore thumb on the landscape. So requiring owners to "disguise" a turbine or tower by painting it green or other colors to match vegetation would actually make it stand out more and should be avoided. Some communities regulate appearance by prohibiting the use of commercial markings, messages, or banners on the turbine or tower. Some towns also dictate which tower types are acceptable in order to ensure only the most visually appealing design. This, too, is a subjective assessment, and such decisi.ons are often made without considering the added cost of a "sleeker" tower that performs just as reliably as another design. A monopole tower (like a'flag pole) generally has a "tidier" appearance than a lattice tower (like a radio tower) or guyed tower (like a flag pole with wire supports), bu~ they can cost several thousands of dollars more and should not be considered equal economic substitutes. All towers on the market are professionally engineered for safety and reliability, leaving appearance and cost the only significant diff~rences among them.