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After turbulent hearing, supervisors postpone action on wind ordinance to May 15
May 10, 2013 by Sierra Robinson in East County Magazine
May 10, 2013 by Sierra Robinson in East County Magazine
After more than three hours of heated testimony on Tuesday, San Diego Supervisors opted to delay a decision on a controversial wind ordinance and changes to plans for two backcountry communities until May 15. The postponement came after a lawyer representing rural residents sent a last-minute letter claiming that approval of the project would be illegal.
"This was a total dog and pony show and not unexpected. We wanted protection from the intrusion of big energy within our community. And, we did not want industry and commercial property right next to our homes and communities," said Mesonika Piecuch who is against wind farms near communities.
But, residents near the turbines are worried they are back to Square One with no real zoning that might stop the wide expansion. At first, the maps were thought of as a hard line in the dirt where wind turbines could be built. But, the maps have since evolved to where they may be used only for guidance.
Commissioners propose changes for wind energy systems
July 23, 2012 by Joe Naiman in Ramona Sentinel
July 23, 2012 by Joe Naiman in Ramona Sentinel
Commissioners voted 4-2 on July 20 to recommend changes that would affect, among other items, definitions and setback and height restrictions. The recommendation will be brought to the county supervisors, who are expected to review them this fall.
Supervisors overrule planning commission; approve meteorological tower use permit
April 19, 2011 in Lassen County Times
April 19, 2011 in Lassen County Times
Lassen County District 3 Supervisor Larry Wosick said the only reason the planning commission denied the use permit application was because the met tower was considered "the gateway" to a project.
County supervisors today are scheduled to consider changes that tighten noise and size restrictions for small wind-energy installations.
"We want to have some local control and not just rely on what the state thinks is appropriate for the county," said Noel Langle, a Santa Barbara County senior planner who is working on the amendments.
Home wind power faces roadblocks in San Francisco
December 5, 2010 by Jessica Kwong in San Francisco Chronicle
December 5, 2010 by Jessica Kwong in San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco may encourage wind and solar energy use equally, but the number of solar panel installations has doubled to more than 2,000 since a citywide incentive was drawn up 2 1/2 years ago. Meanwhile, the number of wind turbines remains in the single digits.
Included in the ordinance's environmental protections are requirements to conduct "biological and special-status plant" studies before construction of the energy system, as well as limitations of the system's height and noise emitted.
For parcels between two and five acres, towers cannot exceed 50 feet.
New height limits set for wind turbines in San Bernardino County
February 10, 2010 by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise
February 10, 2010 by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County supervisors approved new height limits for wind turbines Tuesday despite protests from industry advocates who called the rules too restrictive.
The limits were adopted as part of a group of land use code changes, including those affecting renewable energy projects.
The ordinance reduces the maximum height for wind turbines from 120 feet to 100 feet for parcels larger than 5 acres.
Currently there is no municipal law governing noise in Crescent City, but over the past several months, as the Planning Commission has attempted to draft an ordinance for small wind energy systems, it was apparent that rules for noise were needed.
Santa Cruz County wind turbine presents conundrum for state regulators
December 31, 2009 by Kurtis Alexander in Santa Cruz Sentinel
December 31, 2009 by Kurtis Alexander in Santa Cruz Sentinel
The regulatory agency has told a Santa Cruz County couple that a wind turbine planned for their new home in the Pleasure Point neighborhood is too tall. Suggesting it would add to the area's "visual clutter," the commission recommends the residents lower their proposed 35-foot-high, electricity-generating windmill, an idea the home's architect says is simply unworkable.
Also filed under [
Impact on Views]
Wind energy efforts often get tangled up in red tape
September 2, 2009 by Mike Lee and Jeff McDonald in San Diego Union-Tribune
September 2, 2009 by Mike Lee and Jeff McDonald in San Diego Union-Tribune
Despite the hoopla over renewable energy - media chatter, government rebates, neighbors who "go green" - the nuts and bolts of installing more Earth-friendly power sources often get stuck.
San Diego County, for example, is wrestling with how to handle applications for using residential wind turbines. Critics say the approval process is confusing and drawn-out enough to discourage investment in green power, just as companies are moving to fill the home-windmill niche.
The Tehama County Planning Commission Thursday approved a use permit for a series of 330-foot meteorological test towers outside Mineral.
With use permits issued for as many as five towers to test the feasibility of installing wind turbines, Padoma Windpower has been granted the authority to build and keep the towers on Sierra Pacific land for as many as 36 months.
A Crescent City wind ordinance seems to be as elusive as the breeze a turbine tries to catch.
More than a year after the Planning Commission decided to write a new law that would allow small wind energy systems within city limits, the board delayed taking a final vote on the proposed guidelines to allow more time for revisions.
"They have some lingering concerns about setbacks and noise," Crescent City Planner Michele Rambo said.
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission denied a Lompoc resident's attempt to waylay an alternative energy project Wednesday, but approved the first step for a senior housing development in Old Town Orcutt.
The commission unanimously denied an appeal that took issue with temporary meteorological towers that are part of a renewable wind-energy project southwest of Lompoc.
Not in my neighbor's back yard; Use of wind-power generators vex Temecula officials
July 12, 2009 by Aaron Claverie in The Californian
July 12, 2009 by Aaron Claverie in The Californian
The City Council is trying to craft rules for electricity-generating wind energy systems that won't divide the city's residents into warring camps of "wind energy advocates" and NIMNBYs: "Not in my neighbor's back yard."
So far, it's been tough to find a happy medium.
No decisions on wind energy and heritage tree ordinances
June 23, 2009 by Aaron Claverie in North Country Times
June 23, 2009 by Aaron Claverie in North Country Times
The Temecula City Council wants to take a closer look at a wind energy ordinance and another proposed ordinance that would offer protection for the city's heritage trees.
During Tuesday's meeting, the council postponed a hearing on the heritage tree ordinance until its next meeting in mid-July and voted 3-0 to create a subcommittee to look more closely at the proposed regulations on the harnessing of wind energy.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to streamline the process for meteorological equipment testing for wind energy turbines while directing county staff to return to the board with an analysis on developing a two-tiered ordinance, which separated domestic and commercial systems. On May 12 the supervisors established $350,000 of funding to prepare an Environmental Impact Report.
Prompted by a determined resident who erected a wind turbine in violation of city code, Rancho Palos Verdes officials are contemplating a change in their policy on "small wind" systems.
But it won't happen anytime soon.
The City Council on Tuesday decided to put off consideration of the issue until it becomes clear what will happen with related state legislation.
The 35-foot-tall Skystream 3.7 - a small wind turbine marketed for residential use - overlooks Palos Verdes Drive East from Ramirez's fruit tree-filled backyard. Neighbors and passers-by have been calling Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall to ask about the electricity-producing turbine since it began spinning last month.
The inquiries led to a code violation letter from municipal staff to Ramirez, who put up the turbine to power his home without seeking city permission.