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Planning and ZOning for <br />Wind Power Facilities <br /> <br /> By Erin Kilpatrick and Mark Wyckoff., <br /> <br />Towering kinetic sculptures topped by giant whirling · <br />blades are altering America's pastoral landscape. "Spurred <br />by the desire for an environmentally clean and renewable Fuel <br />to help meet growing demand for electricity, wind energy <br />development is also seen as a potential source of economic <br />benefits," according to the Minnesota State Department of <br />Commerce's report Harvesting the Wind: A/£innesora's Growing <br />Wind Energy Industry. Along with solar energy farms, wind <br />turbine farms are the most promising source of "green" or <br />renewable energy, although waste-to energy; landfill gas, 'and <br />hydroelectric power also will be important renewable energy <br />sources in some locales. <br /> Alternative energy production has far fewer pollutants and <br />may replace coal-burning power plants over time, but what <br />· should a planning commission or professional planner be <br />concerned about with wind power? This issue of Zoning News <br />examines siting criteria and major impacts of wind turbines in <br />the context of local planning and zoning. <br /> <br />Wind Turbine Facilltle~ <br />Wind energy systems use the wind to turn a set of aerodynamic <br />blades attached to an electric generator or turbine. When the <br />wind blows, the blades turn, spinning a shaft that creates <br />electricity in a generator. Wind turbines currently being <br />manufactured have power ratings ranging from 250 to two <br />million watts (2 MW). For example, Traverse City Light and <br />Power in northern Michigan has a 600 kW (600,000 watts) <br />wind generator that provides power for approximately 160 <br />households. <br /> <br /> .. about this article. <br />Join us online! <br />During March 3-14, go online to participate in <br />our "Ask the Author" forum, an interactive <br />feature of Zoning News. Mark Wyckoff, l=^IC~,, will <br />be available to answer questions about this <br />article. Go to the'APA website at <br />www. planning, org and follow the linka to the <br />"Ask the Author" section. From there, just submit <br />your questions about the article using an e-mail <br />link. The author will reply, posting the answers <br />cumulatively on the websire for the benefit of all <br />subscribers. This feature will be available for <br />selected issues of'Zoning News ar announced <br />times. After each online discussion is closed, the <br /> wets will be saved in an online archive <br />available through the APA ZoningNews <br />webpages. <br /> <br />FEBRUARY 2003 <br /> <br />AMERICAN <br />PLANNING <br />ASSOCIATION. ~ <br /> <br />Ponnequin Wind Farm. Each turbine can generate 700,000 watts of <br />energy, or enough electrici{y to meet the needs of 225 homes. <br /> <br />siting Criteria <br />As might be expected, wind facility siting and permitting has <br />similar considerations that wOuld concern. the siring of any other <br />large energy facility. The .three major criteria for siting windmills <br />are just what one might guess: steady wind, dose proximity to.the <br />power r-ransmission grid, and large open land area. Generall3~ wind <br />energy companies wiB set up test towers to. determine the wind <br />speed and direction. Naturally, areas at higher elevations are .often <br />best as the Wind blows there more consistendy. Because.wind <br />turbines produce less energy than natural gas powered facilities, and <br />therefore bring in less revenue, it is preferable to locate the <br />windmills one mile or [ess from the transmission grid (in Order to <br /> <br /> <br />