February 23, 2014
Alabama

Senate looks at regulating wind farms

Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2014 | www.decaturdaily.com

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Senate could take up a bill this week to regulate wind farms.

The bill from Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, gives the Public Service Commission and local governments authority to approve wind farms.

“This does not say that there will be no wind energy in our state,” Williams said on the Senate floor Thursday. “But there is nothing in our state that says how they will be regulated.”

A vote on his bill was delayed last week, but could happen Tuesday or later this week.

Williams said some of the wind turbines can be as tall as 500 feet. The Anniston Star reported Williams proposed the bill after a Texas-based company, Pioneer Green, announced plans to build a series of electricity-producing wind turbines on private property along Shinbone Ridge in Etowah and Cherokee counties.

Senate Bill 12 authorizes the PSC to adopt rules regulating the location, design, installation and operation of wind farms.

Under Williams’ bill, windmills would have to be set back 2,500 feet from a property line. A plan would have to be in place for dismantling the turbines if the project failed.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/23/senate-looks-at-regulating-wind-farms/