|
where birds concentrate (see Avian Mortality at Wind Turbine
<br />Facilities in California, California Energy Commission, I980).
<br />These findings may warrant an avian habitat and population
<br />survey prior to wind energy facility construction. The industry
<br />has published many reports on both siting considerations and
<br />conducting a proper avian survey to avoid avian mortality.-
<br />
<br />Siting Process
<br />As regions determine their compatibility with wind turbines for
<br />energy production, communities'also have begun to assess local
<br />
<br />Clear decision criteria. Decision-making criteria should be
<br />clear and consistendy applied, and. made known from the
<br />outset to all'parqcipants and interested parties.
<br />Coordinated permitr~ng process, where more than one '
<br />agency has jurisdiction over permitting, agencies are
<br />encouraged to coordinate so that project review can
<br />proceed. simultaneously and that redundant, conflicting,.
<br />or inconsistent requirements, Standards, and processes can
<br />be avoided.-
<br />
<br /> · ' ~ Reasonable timejgames.
<br /> Unnecessary-delays and-'
<br /> associated uncertainties can
<br /> be minimized' if permitting
<br /> agencies specify reasonable
<br /> :':',~5~time frames, for each of the
<br /> major phases of the
<br /> ~, permitting process.
<br /> 5 "~ , Advanceplanning. Both
<br /> developers and agencies
<br /> should know as much as .
<br /> possible about the project,
<br /> ! the process, the
<br /> participants, and the issues
<br /> prior to commencing the
<br /> formal permR'ting process..
<br /> ~ ·
<br /> 4' * Efficient administrative and.
<br /> judicial review. Following
<br /> established procedures
<br />
<br />A crowdgathers at opening day ceremonies for a new wind turbine in Mackinaw City, Michigan, December 2001.
<br />
<br />market interests for green power, according to the Renewable
<br />Energy Policy Project website. If community leaders feel there is
<br />suitable demand to purchaze alternative energy, they will seek our
<br />green power producers, who will subsequently bid on. projects like ·
<br />any other.public works activity to determine potential output at a
<br />given site. Once a producer ks selected, the permitting-and approval
<br />process begins. Incidentally, wind tower developers'also approach
<br />communities with projec~ proposals.
<br />
<br />Approval and permitting
<br />Unlike natural gas or coal burning facilities, where regulation
<br />occurs at the state level, wind power facility regulation happens
<br />locally, and most states do not require permits. Any impacts that
<br />would need mitigation are generally confined to a [0cal area
<br />because wind turbines generally have no impact beyond their
<br />circumference of visibility. However, state permits may be
<br />required when facilities impact wedands, sand' dunes, or other
<br />sensitive environments.
<br /> The National Wind Coordinating Committee suggests the
<br />following guidelines for structuring, a permitting process to
<br />allow for efficient agency review, meaningful public
<br />involvement, and timely and defensible, decisions:
<br />
<br />Significant public involvement. Providing opportunities for
<br />early, significant, and meaningful public involvement is
<br />crucial to a successful process, but no one simple formula to
<br />achieve this exists.
<br />
<br />/ssue-orientedprocess. Understanding the most important·
<br />issues facing each wind project and using the permitting
<br />process to help in resolving them.will save time and decrease
<br />the likelihood of litigation.
<br />
<br /> designed to systematically
<br />narrow the issues of concern and produce factually based
<br />decisions can significantly limit appeals and allow them to-
<br />proceed more efficiendy if they do occur.
<br />
<br />Active compliance monitoring· Most agencies include specific
<br />conditions in their permits that must be met during
<br />construction, operation, and project closure. These
<br />conditions can best be implemented if they are specific,
<br />measurable, agreed upon by all parties, realistic, set within
<br />.reasonable time frames, and enforceable.
<br />
<br />Planning and Z°ning COnsiderations
<br />As with all projects, review the zoning ordinance and the '
<br />master plan to ensure compatibility.'The master plan ihould
<br />address issues of community character and where wind power
<br />and other electric generating facilities should be located.
<br />ideally, the plan should identify areas that are appropriate for
<br />locating wind energy facilities and those that are not. The text
<br />shoul'd separate discussion of the community character impacts '
<br />that exist when there is a single wind turbine on a property
<br />(sUch as a farm) and when there are a large number-of such
<br />facilities (usually much taller) as part ora wind energy.farm.
<br />The height ofwind'mrbines varies dramatically.
<br /> When silo. height wind turbines-are'scattered on. farms across a. '
<br />rolling landscape, they have an aesthetic effect thatI is dramatically
<br />less than a single 300-foot wind turbine, or die combined effect of
<br />many wind turbines 0ha Wind energy, farm. The master plan.
<br />should specify whether wind turbines would be allowed in
<br />agricultural, forested, or industrial areas, and specify proximity (or'
<br />separation distance) from residential areas.
<br /> Correspondingly, the zoning ordinance should specify tower
<br />height, the number of wind turbines permitted on a. property in
<br />
<br />
<br />
|