Wind Energy

This article summarizes local planning and regulatory considerations for small wind energy conversion systems (WECs) and includes a model ordinance. It provides background on wind turbines and planning for residential WECs.

It describes and discusses common local regulatory issues with small-scale WECs including state enabling authority, wind assessment, visual and environmental impacts, wake effect, noise, safety, and electrical interference (§3).

It proposes a model for regulating small WECs by right as accessory uses subject to use-specific standards (§4).