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The board met last Monday to start hashing out requirements should anyone propose to build a wind turbine farm in the county.
"Most counties are rewriting their zoning ordinance about these," Plymouth County Zoning Administrator Alan Lucken said. "If a big wind farm came in here, we wouldn't be representing our rural people well."
Currently, he said, anyone wanting to erect a wind turbine must seek a conditional use permit from the county.
In fact, one family in southern Plymouth County secured a permit for a small wind turbine last year to generate some electricity for their home.
But the county has no official set of rules in governing how a company comes in and sets up a larger-scale wind farm, he said.
"Dickinson County had a wind farm come in and they were not ready for it," Lucken said. "Then they had another come in but they had changed their zoning."
Lucken also gave some specifications on turbines used in wind farms today.
The current turbines, he said, are 1.5 megawatt with a 200-foot tower and 135-foot blades.
"It takes 10 semi loads to haul the steel to make one wind turbine," he said. "And each wind turbine requires a gravel road specifically built to it."
Some of possibilities he suggested the zoning board could consider adding for a wind turbine ordinance include:
* requiring a written contract with the landowner showing his or her consent to have the turbine(s) on his or her land.
* requiring that any wind turbine not interfere with any neighbor's TV or radio reception or emergency radio transmission.
* setting a distance from any residence a large-scale wind turbine could be built, possible 1,000 feet
* setting a "fall down" distance requiring the wind turbine to be at least that far from the next property owner's land or the right of way near roads, railroads, etc.
The zoning board also discussed banning wind farms in the Loess Hills, an option several board members supported.
Before the Plymouth County Zoning Board can change its ordinances, it must hold two public hearings.
At this point, according to Lucken, no wind farm is looking to move into Plymouth County.
Although one company showed interest some time ago in a site near Merrill, Lucken said he hasn't heard of any specific interest lately.
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"* requiring that any wind turbine not interfere with any neighbor's TV or radio reception or emergency radio transmission. "
This would not only be difficult to prove, but what if the turbine was built and in operation for years prior to such interference? I understand not wanting to infringe upon a neighbor but the wording needs to be explicit in this case or it could cause problems later.
"The zoning board also discussed banning wind farms in the Loess Hills, an option several board members supported."
This is a generic statement of location and would need clarification of boundaries. There are windmills in MO Loess Hills and they get extra wind power due to turbulance, thermal and venturi effects. Really works well!
I would highly recommend www.windustry.org website for guidance. They have worked with a lot of other municipalities and will share lessons learned. This is also a good place for landowners to visit who may be interested in a wind power turbine.
Happy to finally see some interest in Plymouth county for alternative energy! Even if it is "just in case"!