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<br /> INTRODUCTION , .x,�; h , �:1��a•�';��•'-
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<br /> T6e gzowth m the number of wiad mecgy convezsion systems(WECS)m M�naesom over the]ast IS yrus �I r�'��'
<br /> is a remazkabk mnsurement of sust�nabiLty.Wind mecgy 6ns no hacmfiil emissions,teduces greenhouse � i��
<br /> gases,capnues bcsl iesoiuces for economtc gaw,and ss frequmfly cost-competxttve wtth othu fo=ms of I' I� q'
<br /> etectnc gmecaaou But WECS have impacts on othu laad uses that ue Eound m azeas of wind resouicu, ; i� I i �.,.�
<br /> tacluding restdmnal homes,som�agriculnue,natutal Lesoucces,and on the chacactet of the community. i � ':;E
<br /> As the mazket for wind eaecgy increases end the cost drops,iacceasing numbecs of local govemments fuid ��'
<br /> thamsdves trying to add:ess ptopoaed WECS vnthout the pmpei poliues ot zoniag tools m placa �
<br /> Although most of Minuesob's wiad enecgy resoutce is m nual ueas,evea ucbw ueas are 1�aving to ad- , ?
<br /> dcess these issues Inc�euing numbers of ucban iestdwts and busiaesses are lookiag for opportu=uties to ;;'�}� "�
<br /> improve sustaiaability aad enagy mdepmdmca T6e land use con9icts between WECS and othec uses aze �
<br /> even gxeatet m the subutban and utban mvuonment Crries must dtaw a deac]me as to whece wind en- �
<br /> ecgy systems are appxopnate and where the nuiswces and coa9icts outweigh the bmeGts oE wiad enugy.
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<br /> Understand Youc Goals " '
<br /> The Cust step ia aeating a wind mugy o=diaance�s to idmtify the communtty's goal to be achieved by
<br /> the iegulaaoa Some mmmucuties want ro mcourage teuewebk mecgy genecation Othes communities
<br /> aze pnmanly concemed with avtigating con9icts between wmd mecgy systems and otha land uses I'he Q
<br /> fssst goal leads to the quesnon of where should the community gm pnonry m w�nd enecgy. This ia tum �
<br /> cequires d�e commumty to uadastand where there mtght be a meaninghil wind enetgy ieso�uce;ttees,
<br /> buildings,and topogiaphy all have a substsanal effect on the viability oE tlie 1«al w�nd resoucce The Cr
<br /> second goal leads ro the question of whether wind mecgy is appmpriaoe for the community,and how �
<br /> �tenstvely ro xesmct it Communities can choose ro prohibit WECS,eacept foz those mstallanons that
<br /> m the tegulatory pxwiace of the SMte. Pzohibitwg WECS in locanons wete the wind cesoucce is poot oc
<br /> nonea�stent can actvally have a positive effect on developiag local meigy opportunines,by ditecting Iand
<br /> owneis m focus oa enetgy efficirnry,solaz enecgg o[othet resoutces more suiffible fo[theu site
<br /> Lazge WECS,Small WECS
<br /> In o=dec to add[ess the usues asaociated with WECS,local govemments must undentand that WECS
<br /> come m maay drffeeent sizes and designs,.vith dcamancally d�ffecent lmpacts oa aad benefits to the
<br /> commua�ty. The fizst dudncrion commumties need m mske�n addzesswg WECS in thee developmmt
<br /> iegulanons is between sys�ms that aze primadly des�gned as dectric powet gene[atois fot utility systems o[
<br /> wholesale powa mazkets,and thou systems that aze designed primanly to pLwule powe�to a single resi-
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<br /> `%�s7., "��f .s� �
<br /> z �'p�y,��^. p _ ey n, .C�,.�,. :�i. .'q,3;''
<br /> dence ot business. The forma use uhliry-scale wtbiaes wiitL a capac�ty measured m megawatts,xise hundceds
<br /> k" � of Eeet inm the air,wd ue typically(but not slways),part of a wind Eazm system with othec similaz tucbmes.
<br /> The lattes aze,by contss;quite small m terms of generaaag capaury,he�ght,and frequenry in the laadscape
<br /> Small wuid systems aze sometimes fucthet divided iaro tavo categories of very small systans and]azgec systems.
<br /> * Whece chese dtv'rsions aze made ss htghly dependent upon the chuactes of the comtnuwty,the type of local
<br /> =?q� �� I� goveinmmt,and the magnimde of the wiad zesource
<br /> - � � � Elements of a WECS Otdinance
<br /> L�� Counttes,dties,and toavns6ips axe enabled to iegilste land use undec Mivaesota Statutes 394 and 462 fox the
<br /> purpose of:"pzomoang the health,safety,motals,and genecal welfaxe of the communtty" How wmd mergy
<br /> �, laad use sssues affttt each type oE commuoity will significandy change the stcucnue and focus of the WECS
<br /> in commum' s ace no b ow
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<br /> ozdinance Some common elemmts to cons�det all ne ted d
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<br /> A. Diednguiah between Types ot Wind Ene:gy Applicadons
<br /> � � As wted eaclter m tho introductou,the co�++**+�,�;ty will likdy need to dtsanguish betwem the diEEu-
<br /> £ mt sius of wind eaeigy systems relative to the typical lot size,dens�ty,nat�ual ssoutces,and wmd
<br /> ff 1
<br /> � cesoucce. Two or duee categoaes of WECS may need to be ulrnti&ed m the oxdinancr lazge scale
<br /> (commetual).smalk[scale(aon-commeraal)>very small(miQo)
<br /> B. Define Neceeaaty Petmita
<br /> Some WECS can be Lsted as pecmitted uses,but othus s6ould be coastdaed condiaonal uses,and
<br /> � some applicatioas should be prohibited Luge-ecsle WECS should akvays be conditional,�a otdu
<br /> to msuce that the speafic daign of the sysum�+++�+�++���e nutsances and allow foz publ�c commeat
<br /> Non<ommesaal WECS m iucal areas should probably be permimd uses. Condaronsl use pemurs
<br /> may be jusn6ed foi non-commercial systems whece housuig density is gieatei than s nual setting
<br /> WECS on lots smalk:than one acre become piobkmatic,although m ceztain��M,�+atances half-acce
<br /> lots can accommodau micco-WECS. Geawne ucban deasity azeas(athec in eristence ot planaed)
<br /> .�.,+: should not indude WECS as a petmitted oi condirional use,buang a c6ange in technology d�at
<br /> allows Eo:decieased visual,safety,and noise imputs
<br /> If the commuwty chooses m utilize a wiad-enecgy overlay dtstrict,a gceatu degzee of fleubiltry
<br /> should be buih iam the devdopmmt piocesa Large-scale pxo�ects should pcobably still be con-
<br /> dinonal,but fewu coadiaons avill allow rhe dismct to setve as an encou�agement foi sustainable
<br /> devdopmmt of local wind msou�ces.
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