May 3, 2013
Alabama

House passes bill to allow Baldwin County to regulate windmills

By Mike Cason | May 2, 2013 | al.com

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – The House of Representatives this morning passed a bill to allow the Baldwin County Commission to regulate and issue permits for windmills and wind farms.

Rep. Randy Davis, R-Daphne, the bill’s sponsor, said there is interest in establishing commercial windmills to generate electrical power in some parts of the state, including in Baldwin County.

His bill would allow the county to set guidelines for the construction, placement and operation of windmills in unincorporated areas.

Davis said windmills can cause some environmental concerns. He said they can be up to 400 feet in height.

Davis said the county currently has a moratorium on windmills.

Davis is also sponsor of a bill to provide statewide regulation of windmills, but he said it was probably introduced too late in the legislative session to have a chance to pass. He said there is interest in establishing windmills in mountainous areas in northeast Alabama.

Davis’ Baldwin County bill now moves to the Senate.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/03/house-passes-bill-to-allow-baldwin-county-to-regulate-windmills/