Article
County stiffens rules for wind turbines
www.sbsun.com|Andrew Silva, Staff Writer|December 7, 2005
In a battle over blades and breezes, the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday tightened rules regulating home wind turbines that produce electricity.
In a battle over blades and breezes, the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday tightened rules regulating home wind turbines that produce electricity.
Some residents of the small community of Oak Hills on the edge of the High Desert complained that wind turbines installed by neighbors ruined their views and generated too much noise.
Those charges set off a contentious year-long effort by San Bernardino County to come up with an ordinance that would require a review by the Planning Department, impose a $495 fee for seeking a permit to have a turbine and require neighbors to be notified.
An ordinance with those provisions was approved on a 4-1 vote with Board Chairman Bill Postmus, who represents the High Desert, voting no.
The original complaints triggered a whirlwind of controversy, pitting residents who dislike having the spinning devices perched atop high towers next door against …
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Some residents of the small community of Oak Hills on the edge of the High Desert complained that wind turbines installed by neighbors ruined their views and generated too much noise.
Those charges set off a contentious year-long effort by San Bernardino County to come up with an ordinance that would require a review by the Planning Department, impose a $495 fee for seeking a permit to have a turbine and require neighbors to be notified.
An ordinance with those provisions was approved on a 4-1 vote with Board Chairman Bill Postmus, who represents the High Desert, voting no.
The original complaints triggered a whirlwind of controversy, pitting residents who dislike having the spinning devices perched atop high towers next door against numerous turbine supporters.
Supporters cited the fear of a coming energy crisis as they praised the turbines for creating clean, abundant energy. They also said their property rights shouldn't be trumped by a handful of not-in-my-back-yard activists.
Joe Guasti, who owns a company that has installed more than 70 turbines in Southern California, said the new fee will cripple the growth of wind turbines.
Even though home turbines can easily exceed $25,000, he argued that shelling
out $495 to apply for a permit with no guarantee the Planning Department will say yes will cause people to hesitate and decide not to risk it.
out $495 to apply for a permit with no guarantee the Planning Department will say yes will cause people to hesitate and decide not to risk it.
He also opposed the requirement to notify neighbors, saying the Planning Department will likely deny a permit if any neighbors object. If the department rejects a permit, an appeal can be made to the Planning Commission for an additional fee of $505.
Supporters of wind generators said the ordinance is too vague and gives too much discretion to the planning staff.
Randy Scott of the county Planning Department said the vague language gives planners the flexibility they need to deal with an unforeseeable variety of situations.
He cited the example of Scott Hill, whose neighbor downhill erected a turbine that wound up visible at eye level outside his living-room window.
After the meeting, Hill said the ordinance is exactly what he and others were hoping for.
"It'll benefit other county residents in the future," he said.