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• <br /> MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Tuesday,January 20,2015 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 7: 41 p.m. <br /> Lisa Daniels stated she is the Executive Director of a company called Windustry, a nonprofit company <br /> based in Minneapolis, and also the managing partner of the Midwest Wind Energy Center. Daniels stated <br /> in her view Staff has done a great job of researching small wind energy systems and presenting the <br /> materials tonight. <br /> Daniels stated her main concern with the code and the ordinance is regarding safety. Daniels stated safety <br /> can be addressed through setbacks and certification. Daniels stated in her view it seems like the 300-foot <br /> setback that has been discussed is more going to eliminate any chance of people actually doing this even <br /> though more and more people want to have a choice in their electricity and the sources of their electricity. <br /> Daniels stated in her view 300 feet might be excessive. <br /> Daniels noted any turbine or mechanical piece of equipment has risks of failure involved in its operation, <br /> and in order to mitigate the safety concerns,minimum setbacks should be put in place. Daniels indicated <br /> she has a 2005 Minnesota wind model ordinance that recommends for noncommercial machines the <br /> setback should be equal to or slightly larger than the total height of the structure. The Distributed Wind <br /> Energy Association version of their model ordinance was less restrictive and states that no part of the <br /> wind turbine structure may extend closer than ten feet to any property line. <br /> Daniels stated one thing that has not been discussed here is certification. Daniels stated setbacks are one <br /> way to deal with potential safety concerns and certification is another. Machines that have been certified <br /> have assurances built into them, such as safety,quality, functionality, performance and durability <br /> assurances. Daniels stated all turbines come with a third party certification and provide a higher level of <br /> confidence for both the consumer and the community. The kinds of standards re-enforced by certification <br /> are used to qualify machines and are being adapted for wind turbines in terms of incentives, both on a <br /> state and a federal basis. Daniels stated whether a piece of machinery would qualify or be eligible for the <br /> federal tax credit would need to pass certification. Daniels indicated this is a guideline that just came out <br /> this month from the IRS. <br /> In addition,the Minnesota Department of Commerce has guidelines posted online that recommend siting <br /> a tower on a minimum of one acre of land without trees or buildings,which underscores that some of the <br /> properties in Orono might be too small to have a wind turbine. Daniels stated ten acres is sort of on the <br /> large side,and if the MN Department of Commerce is suggesting one-half to one acre, Orono has gone <br /> way on the other side of that. <br /> Daniels stated she was also hoping that the City would allow structures that are higher than 45 feet. <br /> Daniels stated a turbine cannot capture a good wind resource unless it is above the trees and that Orono is <br /> essentially making any turbine almost useless if the height is limited to 45 feet. Daniels stated the <br /> turbines also have to be away from local obstacles, including trees. Daniels stated the discussion about <br /> getting the machine up higher to avoid flicker and avoid noise was on the right track. Daniels stated in <br /> order for a machine to be useful, they have to allow it grab the wind, and that she hopes the Planning <br /> Commission reconsiders some of these thoughts. <br /> Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 7:49 p.m. <br /> Lemke noted they have regulations in terms of the envelope of the wind turbine but that they do not have <br /> anything regulating certification. <br /> Page 12 of 21 <br />