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<br />10. Potential of Structural or Electrical Failure: <br /> <br />Requiring code compliance and <br />manufacturer drawings should <br />sufficiently balance the public and <br />private needs for an installation to be <br />safe, practicalr reliable, and affordable. <br /> <br />Wind turbines are professionally <br />. engine.ered structures and are designed <br />to withstand decades of near-constant <br />operation (see "Setback Distances and <br />Height" p. 8). They shut down <br />automatically during utility outages in <br />order to protect utility line workers, and <br />will not energize a dead power line. <br />They are also equipped with manual and <br />automatic over-speed protection devices <br />that keep the turbine operating in a <br />controlled range of speeds. Because of <br />these and other factors, mechanical <br />failures are very rare, especially those <br />that would have an impact on <br />surrounding areas. <br /> <br />. But as a precaution, just as.for any <br />other allowed structure, the applicant <br /> <br />should submit to the zoning board a line <br />drawing of the electrical components, <br />as supplied by the manufacturer, in <br />sufficient detail to allow for a <br />determination that the manner of <br />installation conforms to the National <br />Electrical Code. Doing so also serves <br />to demonstrate that the installer and <br />manufacturer are engaged in an. <br />evaluation of the suitability of the site. <br /> <br />"Renewa ble. energy <br />equipment has become <br />more reliable and <br />economical, and <br />instal/ation standards <br />are more professional. " <br />- American Planning <br />Association, 2004.10 <br /> <br /> <br />Though rare, some zoning boards <br />require an engineering analysis of <br />a tower and its foundation, but this <br />is a ~ery costly and often redundant. <br />measure. Even more rare is the <br />requirement of an engineer's "wet <br />stamp," which is a from-scratch <br />calculation performed by a structural <br />engineer of the tower's integrity. Such <br />a study can cost thousands of dollars <br />and serves only to duplicate work that <br />the manufacturer originally performed <br />as a prerequisite for securing liability <br />insurance. <br /> <br />Bergey WindPower <br />blade testing <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />A small wind turbine <br />can in fact be one of <br />the more aesthetically <br />pleasing features in a city. <br />Rooftop heating and <br />ventilation systems, <br />antennas, and other <br />structures found in urba n <br />environments usua Ily <br />reduce any aesthetic <br />impacts from small wind <br />turbines in comparison. <br /> <br />Proven Energy, Ltd. manufacturing facility <br />in Scotland, UK <br /> <br /> <br />10 "Policy Guide on Energy." American Planning <br />Association, April 2004. <br />http://www . plan ni ng. org/ poi icyg u ides/pdf/ Energy. pdf <br />