County exploring rules to manage rural wind turbines

Despite the national and global focus on energy sources and costs, Worcester County might not pursue an ordinance allowing small wind turbines in rural areas until at least next year.

"We're not reinventing the wheel here," said Commission President Virgil Shockley, a strong supporter of rural wind turbines.

Another proponent, Commissioner Linda Busick, would like to see something on the books soon addressing the alternative power sources.

"We need a code to deal with it so people can install these things appropriately," said Busick. "If we wait on it, it's going to be a long time. These are things we need to do now."

Commissioner Bobby Cowger felt there was no rush to draft an ordinance, saying it could wait until the comprehensive rezoning is complete. Wind power guidelines could be started in the winter and then be finished sometime next summer.

"It certainly ought to be addressed," said Cowger. "We've had nobody come in and ask for permits to put ‘em up. There's not a mad rush to get that done."

Wind turbines would likely only be allowed in agriculturally-zoned property, eliminating concerns that the turbines could impact nearby properties and cause problems between neighbors.

"A-l (agricultural zoning) is where the loans are," Shockley said.

"The county certainly needs to look at some guidelines so people can apply for the grant funding," Busick said.

Shockley said he is pushing the idea of rural wind energy in part because of federal and state grants and loan money that is available through the end of 2008.

That funding might not be renewed in 2009, Shockley warned, given the downturn in the economy.

The Farm Bill of 2006 provides for $15.8 million in wind power and alternative energy grants and $205 million guaranteed low interest loans for rural property, including homes, agriculture operations and small business.

"The money's there. The money's out there," Shockley said.

Any wind turbine ordinance would apply only to the county and not the towns, according to Shockley.

"We're not going out into the water. We'll leave that fight to somebody else," Shockley said during Tuesday's meeting.

Shockley said he has already had people asking him about the legality of wind turbines in Worcester County.

Windmills are allowed under current county code, but wind turbines are not mentioned. Use or structures not mentioned in the code are prohibited.

However, Shockley said he is concerned that people will still put them in, leaving Worcester County in a legal quandary. There are no fines or sanctions associated with an illegal wind turbine in the code, which could make controlling unsanctioned wind turbines difficult.

"People are just going to put them up," Shockley said.

Cowger said the county is already home to a couple wind turbines.

"I know where two of them are sitting right as we speak," Cowger said.

Development Review and Permitting Director Ed Tudor, who has been rewriting the zoning code to conform with the March 2006 Comprehensive Plan, said he would get back to the commissioners with a section on wind power. Tudor reported Tuesday that the rewritten code is almost complete.

"It's our intent to have a comprehensive section on wind," Tudor said.

"There's another way to do it, some kind of separate legislation for it," Busick said.

Putting wind turbines in the zoning code should be enough, Cowger said.