Zoning and Permitting for Small Wind Systems
Every community approaches permitting and zoning differently. Increasingly, Oregon communities recognize the benefits of small wind and are adopting ordinances that make permitting easier. Although your Energy Trust trade ally contractor will likely navigate the approval process for you, it doesn’t hurt to know what to expect.
Get started by reading Energy Trust’s Small Wind Permitting Considerations for Local Governments.
Consider enlisting community support in a letter that provides information about your proposed system and why you want to install it. The American Wind Energy Association has sample letters that you can adapt and send to neighbors and local governments.
It’s important to remember that your local government is responsible for balancing the interests and safety of everyone in the community. Local officials, and your neighbors, initially could be nervous about small wind simply because it’s new and they don’t know what to expect. By becoming familiar with the community benefits and common misconceptions described below, you’ll be able to work positively with your community toward the common goal of supporting clean, renewable energy.
Small wind benefits your community by:
- Improving energy independence
- Reducing energy costs
- Reducing loads on the local electricity grid
- Increasing regional economic growth and the opportunity for jobs
- Serving as a visible indicator of community support for clean energy
Additional information about some common questions and misconceptions about small wind systems:
| Issue |
Comments |
| Shadow “flicker” |
Today's small wind system turbines are short, have narrow blade profiles and spin rapidly so that any shadows should essentially be invisible at operating speeds. Normal setbacks in Oregon latitudes should make this a non-issue. |
| Birds and bats |
A common misconception due to issues encountered with large utility-scale wind projects, the risk with individual small wind systems is typically considered to be nominal. It is estimated that house cats and window glass cause 10,000 times more bird deaths than all wind turbines. |
| Electrical interference |
Blade materials are designed to be "invisible" to radio frequency transmissions and shouldn't cause interference. |
| Lightning |
Small wind turbines should be grounded so any static electricity is dispersed into the ground, preventing a build-up that could invite lightning strikes. |
| Stray voltage |
Stray voltage results from inadequate wiring or grounding, or deteriorated wire insulation that is inside the property line. Small wind turbine inverters that are IEEE 1547 or UL1741 compliant are designed to detect faulty grounding and automatically shut down current flow. Small wind systems also include ground-fault circuit interrupters. |
| Ice or excessive wind |
Blades cannot rotate at significant speed when iced, so ice cannot be thrown. Melting ice falls down. Manufacturers equip their wind turbines with manual and automatic over-speed protection devices that keep the turbine operating in a controlled range of speeds. |
If you have questions or problems, Energy Trust is here to help. Call us at 1.866.368.7878 or contact our small wind team.