Small Wind Energy Systems
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) published this model bylaw to provide cities and towns with a streamlined and efficient administrative permitting process for responsibly sited small wind systems.
This model ordinance, applicable to small wind energy systems (60 kilowatts or less), sets several requirements so that the system is responsibly sited, constructed and maintained. The ordinance specifies that the wind energy system meet general requirements. For example, the local utility for grid-tied wind energy systems must be notified and building inspector permits must be issued. The ordinance also discusses site standards to regulate how far wind energy systems have to be set back from other structures. The ordinance includes design standards to specify appearance, lighting and signage requirements. Safety, aesthetic and environmental standards are also discussed in order to prevent unauthorized access, regulate the noise associated with the wind energy system and associated equipment, and to mitigate the amount of cleared land, soil erosion and habitat impacts associated with the wind energy system.
This model ordinance is ideal for those communities interested in promoting wind energy and ensuring those systems meet certain basic requirements. Because this ordinance is only meant to regulate smaller wind systems (with a capacity of 60 kilowatts or less), this ordinance may not be of interest to those readers interested in regulating larger wind systems.
