Wind Turbines. May 6, 2009 Presentation to County Board. Planning Commission / Staff Concept

Transcription

1 Wind Turbines May 6, 2009 Presentation to County Board Planning Commission / Staff Concept

2 Purpose of this presentation Why are we doing this? Educate on wind energy opportunities and challenges in Albemarle County Determine if current proposal meets the Board s expectations

3 Why are we doing this? Board directed Planning Commission and staff to develop proposal to allow wind turbines Board adopted U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration (December 2007) Work closely with local, state, and federal governments and other leaders to reduce county geographical GHG emissions to 80 percent below current levels by 2050, Comprehensive Plan and Sustainability 1998 Goal - Achieve a sustainable community that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Strategy: Continue investigating aggressive and viable strategies for green building, energy efficiency, and the following: - Recycling - Alternative Energy - Local Food Production - Protection of Water Resources - More efficient Wastewater Treatment - Enhanced Transit, Sidewalks, Bicycle Facilities, Trails and Greenways

4 Wind Turbine Types Small Up to 10 kwatt, typically supports a home or farm use Large Up to 1 MWatt, typically supports on-site industrial uses Utility Greater than 1 MWatt, typically sells electricity for profit Planning Commission and staff have focused on small wind turbines and decided not to pursue large or utility wind turbines at this time

5 Large / Utility Wind Turbines Size / Scale

6 Large / Utility Wind Turbines

7 Wind Resources Most of Albemarle County is considered poor

8 Source: U.S. Dept of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Wind Energy & Clearance

9 Cost Effectiveness is proportional to available wind Mountain Ridge Conditions Wind Power Class Typical Albemarle Conditions Breakeven (years)

10 Opportunities and Challenges Albemarle County has an interest in reducing its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Albemarle County has limited wind resources Best opportunities will be on mountain ridges where visual impacts can be high, but other opportunities do exist County process can be a substantial part of the cost and potentially make wind energy uneconomical in low wind areas

11 Current Proposal for Small Wind Turbines Tiered Approach Tier 1 is lowest visual impact and treated as administrative permit ( by right ) Tier 2 has slightly higher visual impacts that require a waiver by the Planning Commission Tier 3 has highest visual impacts and requires a Special Use Permit

12 Tier I Wind Turbines Limited to Rural Areas Limited to height of buildings in the zoning district (e.g. 35 in Rural Areas) Not allowed in Mountains or Entrance Corridors Setback = height of structure + 20 feet No lighting No collocation of personal wireless facilities

13 Tier I Example R -1 Property RA Property Wind Turbine 35 max House 20 min Accessory Building 35 max 6 min 55 min

14 Tier I Example

15 Tier I Example Note: Tree Height

16 Tier II Wind Turbines Planning Commission can waive the following and apply conditions to waiver: 1. Locating in other zoning districts 2. Locating in mountains or Entrance Corridors 3. Collocation of Personal Wireless Facilities 4. Lighting 5. Setback Planning Commission could not waive height limit

17 Tier II Example Entrance Corridors

18 Tier II Example Development Areas

19 Tier III Wind Turbine Special Use Permit required to allow wind turbines higher than maximum building height in the zoning district Concurrent consideration of any waivers that are part of a Tier II Wind Turbine

20 Tier III Examples Taller than 35 max. building height

21 Tier III Example With and Without Collocated Wireless Antenna Without Wireless Antenna With Wireless Antenna

22 Other Considerations Noise Zoning Ordinance requires less than 55 db at night, which wind turbine can do. By comparison, many heat pumps / air conditioners are much noisier and exempted in ordinance Ice throws Ice accumulated on turbine blades is a limited concern in this area and addressed by the setback requirement Wildlife Problems noted with utility size turbines on migration routes, very limited concern with small wind turbines

23 Questions 1. Is there agreement we should focus on an ordinance for small wind turbines and postpone consideration of large/utility ones? 2. Is there agreement with the concept of a tiered approach to small wind turbines? 3. Should any of the potential Tier II waivers be considered for a by right use under Tier I? Setback = Height + 20 Locate in Mountains or Entrance Corridors Locate in Development Areas Lighting Collocation of wireless antenna 4. Should a special use permit be required for any structure taller than the allowed building height? Alternatively, should some additional height be allowed under Tier I or a waiver under Tier II? (e.g. allow height to 80 if located at least 200 from property line)

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25 NOAA CANVIS Example

26 Albemarle County Examples

27 Carters Mountain Illustration Wind Turbines Typical View