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Monday, May 10, 2010
Ind. Gov't. - "Valpo developing new wind turbine regulations"
Phil Wieland reports today in the NWI Times:
VALPARAISO | Residents interested in casting their electric bill's fate to the winds will have to wait a little longer.The first effort to adopt zoning regulations on wind turbines for homes and businesses almost a year ago drew criticism for attempting to limit them to a height that would make them ineffective. City Planning Director Craig Phillips withdrew the proposal and said he would do more research on the issue. * * *
Porter County now has a wind turbine ordinance, and one has been recommended to the Portage City Council for passage. Phillips said that will provide additional references that could be helpful in speeding up Valparaiso's efforts.
"I'll look at what they've done," he said. "The fact others are doing it shows there is a critical mass interested in the topic, and it gives us more reason to revisit what we began earlier."
Lewis was critical of the first ordinance for trying to limit height to 30 feet, which he said would not be high enough to take advantage of the winds. The height will be limited, but the precise parameters still are being worked out.
"We are trying not to eliminate something that might work," Lewis said. "We are trying to be as open and flexible to wind turbines as possible. We are going to limit the height, but we are trying to find the appropriate ground to get the best technology but also deal with the aesthetics, flicker (of light through the spinning blades) and property lines for fall zones (if the turbines should topple)."
Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 10, 2010 12:45 PM
Posted to Indiana Government