Public hearing held on wind turbine rules

Van Wert independent

Van Wert City Council is set to adopt new zoning rules related to wind turbines within the city limits after no one showed at a public hearing to gain local input to the new rules.

The legislation includes a new definition of “tower” that includes wind turbines and also makes construction of a wind turbine within the city limits a “conditional use” as it relates to local zoning regulations. That means any request to build a wind turbine in the city must be considered on a case-by-case basis and must also meet a number of regulations developed in connection with wind turbine construction.

Also, because of the conditional usage designation, any request to build a wind turbine within the city limits must be heard and approved by the Van Wert Zoning Board of Appeals.

An ordinance that oversees the permitting of small wind energy systems within the city limits creates a number of regulations related to the construction of the turbines, including the following:

• Wind turbines must be set back a distance equal to their height from public roadways, overhead utility lines and all property lines (unless an exception or special permission is granted).
• All ground mounted electrical and control equipment must be labeled or secured to prevent unauthorized access and any tower shall be designed and installed so as not to provide step bolts or a ladder easily accessible to the public for a minimum of eight feet above the ground.
• Electrical wires must be buried underground, other than those that connect the wind generator to the tower wiring.
• A wind turbine tower and generator shall not be artificially lighted unless required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• The system must comply with all applicable state construction and electrical codes and the National Electrical Code.

In addition to the above regulations, a building permit is needed to construct a wind turbine within the city limits.