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"We ought to have <br />a law that allows <br />homeowners and <br />small business people <br />to put up photovoltaic <br />generators and small <br />windmills and any <br />other new sources of <br />widely distributed <br />generation that they <br />can come up with. " <br />- Al Gore, <br />March 19, 2007 <br />CNN Glenn Beck Show <br />"Bad zoning not only <br />scares away potential <br />customers, but also <br />dealers - the local <br />small businesses that <br />distribute, install, <br />and maintain small <br />wind systems. " <br />- Mike Bergey, <br />Bergey Wind Power Co. <br />"Planners can encourage <br />efficient energy use, <br />diversification of energy <br />supply, and emissions <br />reductions through their <br />influence -over the built <br />and natural environments <br />- including both where <br />and how we. build, and <br />where and how we <br />preserve open spaces. " <br />- American Planning <br />Association. <br />Planning and Climate <br />Change: Mitigation and <br />Clean Energy Strategies. <br />www,planning.org/ <br />energy/index.htm <br />IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST:, <br />HOW AND WHY TO PERMIT <br />FOR SMALL WIND SYSTEMS <br />A Guide for State and Local Governments <br />The greatest challenges to small-scale renewable energy are not <br />technical, but rather financial, political, and regulatory. Confusing, <br />inconsistent or even absent permitting processes discourage the <br />very people a forward -thinking community would want to enable: <br />those with the motivation and resources to generate their own <br />clean electricity. <br />Small wind turbines allow homeowners, farmers, small business <br />owners, and public facilities to generate their own clean, safe, <br />a.nd reliable energy for on-site use. Though thousands of towns <br />and counties already do, many have not yet included small wind <br />Sy stems in their zoning codes to allow their use. The reason is <br />often no more than a lack of familiarity with the technology, <br />resulting in overabundant care to avoid setting a controversial <br />precedent. This often renders the permitting process the single <br />most daunting obstacle for would-be consumers and prevents <br />the installation - and associated public benefits - of thousands <br />of small wind systems. <br />The good news is this is easy to fix. Making the permitting process <br />affordable, streamlined; and accountable is in the best interest of <br />the consumer, environment, and community. This guide explains <br />why, and identifies best practices for local governments to balance <br />the interests of property owners and the community. <br />Ron Stimmel <br />September 2008 <br />American Wind Energy Association <br />rstimmel@awea:org <br />(202) 383-2546 <br />