After about 40 minutes of a sometimes-heated discussion involving about 20 people, the Hughes County Planning and Zoning Commission decided on Monday to go ahead with a revision of its ordinances, increasing the minimum setbacks on large wind turbines from neighboring homes. ...the county’s zoning commission’s proposed amendment that would increase the setback distance of wind turbines from a neighbor’s residence from 1,000 feet to 1,400 feet.

Zoning/Planning South Dakota

RBC is already facing a £20 million black hole after the scheme was blocked

Zoning/Planning UK

The Henry County Area Plan Commission, during its meeting Thursday night, effectively denied a year extension which had been requested by NextEra Energy Resources in regard to the West Fork Wind Project, along with denying a year extension for Apex Clean Energy concerning its Flat Rock Wind Project.

Zoning/Planning Indiana

The vote was 57-42 percent in favor of a requirement that all turbines be placed at least a half mile from all habitable dwellings in the county. Heavy turnout from southern Lincoln County was the deciding factor, with universal support for the stricter setbacks in every city south of Tea, and the precincts closest to the proposed footprint of a 150-turbine project saw turnouts of up to 57 percent - rare for a special election. 

Zoning/Planning South Dakota

"What this vote does have to do with is a safe setback, a distance from a home that is occupied by people and an industrial wind turbine," Brouwer explains. ...the current half-mile setback will better protect people from the noise and health issues are associated with wind turbines.  

Zoning/Planning South Dakota

As more wind energy projects are established in South Dakota, it’s important that developers and local officials work to identify and address community concerns around new projects. One piece to consider is crafting zoning standards that focus on citizens’ concerns while allowing for development of renewable wind energy.

Zoning/Planning South Dakota

Weaver expressed concern over Preston’s recommendation of measuring the setback to the distance of the home and not the property line. “If you only place it at the house, not the property line, how do you evacuate the children from the yard? Why have a special allowance for schools, churches and hospitals when [you] spend more time [at home]?”

Zoning/Planning Michigan

The moratorium would be a major setback for wind projects in northeastern North Carolina, including Apex Clean Energy's proposed Timbermill project in Perquimans and Chowan and the Little Alligator wind farm in Tyrrell County. The moratorium would allow the Amazon Wind Farm US East in Pasquotank and Perquimans counties to continue to operate, however.

Energy Policy Zoning/Planning North Carolina

Those who support stricter setbacks say the project isn’t right for such a populated area. “We make our homes and our lives here,” said Winnie Peterson, executive director of We-Care SD, which stands for Wind Energy Concerns About the Rural Environment. The group has pushed for larger setbacks and supports the commission’s new rules that are subject to the July vote.

Zoning/Planning South Dakota

A key aspect Act 174 is that it allows regions and municipalities more influence over siting wind, solar, hydro or other energy facilities during the Public Service Board permitting process, if they have a certified plan in place.

Energy Policy Zoning/Planning Vermont

CLEVELAND --- Ohio lawmakers are not going to allow electric utilities to seek rate increases solely to buttress sagging credit ratings, as requested by one state utility 

Energy Policy Zoning/Planning Ohio

Judge Linda Ralu Wolf of Delaware Circuit Court No. 3 will replace Henry Circuit Court 1 Judge Bob Witham regarding two court suits that claim the Henry County Planning Commission failed to give proper notice in October 2009 of the public hearing for a new proposed wind energy conversion system (WECS) ordinance.

Zoning/Planning Indiana

Steve Faivre (D-4), Planning and Zoning committee chairman, said the moratorium applies to the wind turbines themselves, as well as solar panels used to generate commercial energy, not the testing towers. "The testing just gives EDF the information as to whether or not it would be commercially viable to do that from a wind standpoint," Faivre said.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

More significantly, the drafted proposals also retain the mandatory minimum setback distance of 500m for wind turbine construction near residential homes, something Fitzmaurice does not think will sit well with local communities. “People won’t stand for what they are proposing and won’t accept the 500m setback area. I would expect people to lodge a submission against them,” He continued.

Zoning/Planning Ireland

The plans still calls for setbacks of wind towers to be five times the height of the wind tower from the property line of a non-participating landowner. ...The local law for sound decibels to be at .45 or below from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and .35 decibels from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. from a participating landowners residence.

Zoning/Planning New York

The amendments to the zoning ordinance can be challenged by referendum if enough valid signatures are gathered in opposition of the changes. The township zoning ordinance was also amended to allow for solar energy systems.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

The company behind a proposed wind farm has gathered enough signatures to challenge a new set of rules adopted by county commissioners earlier this year.

Zoning/Planning South Dakota

A coalition of farm and energy groups launched a campaign Tuesday asking voters to overturn restrictive wind turbine rules passed last month in Lincoln County. The ordinance requires turbines to be spaced at least a half mile from homes unless the energy company obtains a waiver from the neighboring landowner.

Zoning/Planning South Dakota

Two town councils with a tentative wind energy facility planned for construction in their backyards will hold public hearings this week to discuss their proposed regulations.

Zoning/Planning New York

The Henry County Planning Commission did not have enough votes either way at the most recent meeting to approve or deny requests from two separate wind farm companies who wanted a second one-year extension of the commission-approved uses (CAUs) that will let each company continue to develop their industrial wind turbine projects in the southern part of the county.

Zoning/Planning Indiana