Nelson County eyes wind energy

[kristopher]

Nelson County eyes wind energy

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors began the process Dec. 9 of reviewing ordinances to allow small wind energy systems within the county.

Superivsors voted 3-2, with East District Supervisor Allen Hale and West District Supervisor Thomas Bruguiere voting no, to send a draft ordinance for such systems to the Nelson County Planning Commission for review and recommendations.

The ordinance defines small wind energy systems as “a wind energy conversion system consisting of a wind turbine, a tower and associate control or conversion electronic that has a maximum power of at most 50 (kilowatts), which will be used primarily to reduce on-site consumption of utility power.”

The ordinance regulates wind turbine towers: Towers could not exceed 100 feet, must be erected on a parcel no smaller than two acres and cannot be artificially lighted.

The turbines would be allowed by conditional use permits in all zoning districts.

Supervisors said they would like to make the regulations less restrictive.

“As with so many things, the amount of regulation is page after page,” Hale said. “The most simple and straightforward language should be employed with these things.”

http://www.nelsoncountytimes.com/nco/news/other/article/nelson_county_eyes_wind_energy/11661/