May 3, 2011
Maine

Standards for wind energy systems in Tremont in the works

By Laurie Schreiber, Bar Harbor Times, mdi.villagesoup.com 3 May 2011

Tremont – Over the past year, the Tremont Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee has been working to develop permitting standards for the placement in town of wind-powered electric generating systems.

The Planning Board set July 26 as the public hearing date on the ZOAC’s proposed recommendations, said Code Enforcement Officer Carl Young. As of yet, the town office has not issued the notice of public hearing.

The proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment defines small wind energy systems as “Systems designed and installed to produce electricity servicing only the parcel on which the system is placed and producing 10 kilowatts or less per structure.”

According to the draft text, the purpose of the Small Wind Energy Systems section is “to permit the placement and construction of safe and effective small wind energy systems.”

The draft section sets proposed dimensional requirements of a minimum lot area of 40,000 square feet, and an additional 80,000 square feet for an additional small wind energy system. No more than three small wind energy systems would be allowed on any one site.

The small wind energy system would not be allowed to exceed 80-feet above ground level and maximum capacity would not exceed 10 KW.

The proposed safety setbacks are: 200 percent of the system height from abutting property lines; 250 percent of the system height from structures on abutting properties; 200 percent of the system height from public and private right-of-ways; 2,500 feet from any areas designated as recognized historic sites or important bird habitat areas identified as significant wildlife habitat by the state.

The proposed section would deem a small wind energy system as abandoned if it has not generated electricity for 12 consecutive months, and would required an abandoned small wind energy system to be dismantled and removed from the property of the owner within 120 days.

The proposed section would restrict the noise level from the small wind energy system, and would ban electromagnetic interference beyond the site.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/03/standards-for-wind-energy-systems-in-tremont-in-the-works/