New height limits set for wind turbines in San Bernardino County
The Press-Enterprise |Imran Ghori|February 10, 2010
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.
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.
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.
For smaller parcels, the maximum height was reduced from 100 feet to 80 feet.
The change only affects projects in residential areas in the desert. For areas zoned agriculture or open space, wind turbine owners can still have towers as high as 120 feet.
Several industry representatives spoke against the ordinance, warning that it …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]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.
For smaller parcels, the maximum height was reduced from 100 feet to 80 feet.
The change only affects projects in residential areas in the desert. For areas zoned agriculture or open space, wind turbine owners can still have towers as high as 120 feet.
Several industry representatives spoke against the ordinance, warning that it could hurt a growing business sector.
"These projects will go elsewhere in the state and the jobs will follow," said Jim Anderson sales director for Black Mountain Financial, a firm that provides financing for renewable energy projects.
A few residents spoke in favor of the changes.
"I would really like to see none of the wind generators in a residential community," said Skip Bond, a resident of Oak Hills.
Jim Squire, deputy director of the land use services department, said the changes were an attempt to balance the needs of the industry with concerns of residents. For the most part, they streamline the process for approving such projects, he said.
Supervisors agreed to ease a few of the provisions. A requirement that wind turbines be painted to blend in to their surroundings was eliminated.
Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt also asked the county planning staff to re-evaluate a provision regarding solar energy projects in residential areas.
The ordinance sets a 20-acre minimum. He suggested that the county allow for projects as small as five acres. Planners will report back in 60 days.