The subcommittee of the Stutsman County Planning and Zoning Commission continued work on a zoning ordinance to regulate commercial wind farms in the county Thursday. In what was intended to be the final meeting of the subcommittee, it made changes regarding safety issues concerning meteorological towers, placed a decibel limit on the noise generated by the turbine, added a cap on the site application fee, removed expiration dates for site authority and defined road testing.

The subcommittee of the Stutsman County Planning and Zoning Commission continued work on a zoning ordinance to regulate commercial wind farms in the county Thursday.

In what was intended to be the final meeting of the subcommittee, it made changes regarding safety issues concerning meteorological towers, placed a decibel limit on the noise generated by the turbine, added a cap on the site application fee, removed expiration dates for site authority and defined road testing.

But while the subject was discussed, no changes were made to the setback provision, which would require that wind turbines be placed at least five rotor diameters away from occupied buildings and the property of others unless the owner has signed a waiver allowing the construction.

The rotor diameter, or RD, is the distance across the circle made by the tips of the rotor blades as they rotate. For the three-megawatt wind turbines now commonly installed in this area, the RD is approximately 350 feet making the five-RD setback about 1,800 feet.

"I want them to be in the living room explaining why they want to put something that big next to my yard," said Fritz Fremgen, Stutsman County state's attorney.

Another issue is the prop wake or wash caused by turbines. Turbines cause disruptions downwind that makes additional turbines unprofitable in that area.

Representatives of one wind energy company eyeing Stutsman County were in attendance at the zoning subcommittee meeting.

Web link: http://www.jamestownsun.com/articles/index.cfm?id=80338&section=News"