Planning Commission: Allow wind turbines

Albemarle County Planning Commission members sent a clear message Tuesday: The county should allow wind turbines.

Turbines are prohibited in Albemarle, but the Planning Commission unanimously approved a resolution calling for the county to allow small power-generating wind turbines. However, some specifics about where turbines should be allowed and what restrictions should be established were left up in the air.

During the past several months, the county has closely examined whether the county ordinance should be changed to allow wind turbines, which provide renewable energy. But county officials are trying to avoid eyesores and noise nuisances, and the Planning Commission hasn’t figured out exactly how to do that without creating restrictions that discourage residents from installing turbines.

“There’s nothing in here that’s going to control the color of them,” Planning Commission member Linda Porterfield said. “There’s nothing in here that’s going to control the sound of them.”

Wayne Cilimberg, the county’s director of planning, said there are ways for the county to manage potentially negative effects of wind turbines.

But Planning Commission members haven’t yet agreed on which restrictions to suggest to the Board of Supervisors, which will have the final say in the matter.

Officials have created guidelines that generally restrict the height of wind turbines to the allowed height of buildings — generally 35 feet in rural areas, for example — unless the Planning Commission grants a waiver.

County staff officials have also drawn up recommendations that call for wind turbines to be far enough from buildings that the buildings would not be damaged by turbines that collapse.

County officials have been resistant to the idea of allowing wind turbines to double as cell phone towers or have lights on them, though officials have toyed with the idea of giving the Planning Commission power to make individual exceptions.

Planning Commission member Bill Edgerton said the county should provide enough flexibility to encourage residents to install wind turbines.

Though some experts contend that newer model wind turbines can be very quiet, some county officials still question whether the turbines would be loud on exceptionally windy days or if the constant noise would become annoying for nearby residents.

Jeremy Hayes, president of Skyline Turbine, described at a Board of Supervisors meeting a type of wind turbine that costs about $22,500 to install. Buyers might be eligible for a 30 percent rebate from the federal government, he said. That turbine could supply more than half a home’s energy.

Wind turbines have gained favor as part of national efforts to develop alternative energy sources, but the turbines — especially those used in large-scale commercial wind farms — have proven divisive. The Planning Commission has showed no interest in the larger-scale turbines.

County officials plan to hold a public hearing on the matter next month and eventually make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

In other news, as county officials consider how much to increase zoning ordinance fees, the Planning Commission elected by a 4 to 3 vote to have county staff advertise fees in which at least 75 percent of the county’s administrative costs are recovered from builders. But Planning Commission members have been divided on how expensive the fees should be.