Wind Energy

This guide provides municipalities and counties with resources for planning and regulating wind energy projects. It suggests three recommended practices for “wind-friendly permitting” – include wind energy in comprehensive plans, implement a wind energy ordinance, and adopt an energy overlay zone (p.2).

It recommends processes for integrating wind energy into local planning (p.4):

1. Inventory high wind potential areas
2. Analyze compatibility of wind and other land uses
3. Set goals and objectives for energy development
4. Implement regulations to achieve goals

It contains a model municipal and county wind energy ordinance, with commentary for each section (p.5). It defines three classes of wind energy facility by nameplate capacity and the intended purpose of the project. It permits Size I facilities by right in all districts, subject to use-specific standards. It permits Size II facilities in all zones except residential, subject to use-specific standards. It suggests allowing commercial-scale Size III projects with a discretionary use permit, subject to use-specific standards. To encourage the development of Size III facilities, it suggests communities create wind energy overlay zones or permit Size III projects by right in certain non-residential areas, subject to use-specific standards (p.8).