Is Wind Energy the Future Source of Energy?

Blain County is approaching towards the regulation that would bring homeowners in the region permission of installing wind energy turbines. General buildings are now allowed to fit wind energy turbines either on the roofs of their buildings or install as free standing wind towers. During a special conference held on 25th August, 2009, Country Commissioners has regulated a set of criteria for installing different types of wind energy facilities depending on the type of the property.

As per the draft created by County Commissioner, properties with lower than 5 acre parcels or under residential R-5 zoning are allowed to install small scale wind turbines. Height of these small scale wind turbines must not exceed 35 feet and should not exceed 15 feet above the roof. However, property owners can extend up to 40 feet. This special conditional use permit will allow property owners to extend “15-foot-above-rooftop restriction”.

Property owners planning to source wind energy from free-standing wind towers are also needed to seek permission. The permit is usually sanctioned to parcels of minimum 2 acres (R-2 zoning) and when turbines are 40 feet high. For homeowners having properties between R-5 and R-10 zoning (or parcels between 5 to 10 acres) are not required a conditional-use permit for installing rooftop wind energy turbines of up to 40 feet height. However, if they want to install free wind turbines should comply with same restrictions.

Properties with R-10 zoning or greater than parcels of 10 acres are allowed to install free-standing towers and they do not require a permit unless the tower exceeds 40 feet.