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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Tuesday, January 20, 2015 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 2 of 21  <br />  <br />the City, and review height, location, and setback standards. The Planning Commission should also <br />discuss whether distribution of electricity would be allowed to properties outside of the property that the <br />WECS is located on and whether WECS should be an accessory use or a conditional use. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated in relation to ornamental wind turbines, the City has one that was put in place that was <br />purported to be ornamental along Highway 12. The turbine is roughly 15 to 20 feet in height and is <br />purportedly not generating electricity. The existing alternative energy ordinance, while it bans the use of <br />WECS, does not ban the installation of wind turbines themselves that are not connected to electrical <br />feeder lines or the associated controls. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated a list of definitions is included in Staff’s memorandum. In most city codes, a wind turbine <br />is defined as any piece of electrical generating equipment that converts the kinetic energy of blowing <br />wind into electrical energy through the use of airfoils or similar devices to capture the wind. A residential <br />wind turbine is capable of generating 10 kilowatt nameplate generating capacity or less. A small wind <br />turbine is capable of producing 100 kW nameplate generating capacity or less. A utility wind turbine is a <br />turbine capable of generating more than 100 kW nameplate generating capacity. A wind energy <br />conversion system (WECS) is an electrical generating facility that consists of a wind turbine, feeder <br />line(s), associated controls, and may include a tower. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated a question has been raised as to whether a purely decorative or ornamental wind turbine or <br />wind device functionally has the same potential visual and noise impacts as one that is part of a system. <br />Assuming that the end result of this process is that a WECS will be allowed subject to certain standards, <br />the existing code section that bans wind energy conversion systems will be removed and replaced with <br />some defined standards. If the City decides to allow ornamental wind turbines, it will need to be spelled <br />out that way in the code. <br /> <br />Other cities’ codes have used the following definition: Ornamental wind devices that are not a WECS <br />shall be exempt from the provisions of this section and shall conform to other applicable provisions of <br />this chapter and the City Code. <br /> <br />Staff is also recommending that the definition terminology be revised so that the terms residential wind <br />turbine, small wind turbine, and utility wind turbine, be listed as Residential WECS, small WECS, and <br />Utility WECS, since their intended meanings relate to the complete system and not just the turbine. It <br />also may be appropriate to include language in the code that acknowledges that WECS of 5000 kW <br />nameplate capacity or greater are regulated by the state and not subject to this ordinance. <br /> <br />Questions to answer regarding ornamental wind turbines are as follows: <br /> <br />1. Should the installation of purely ornamental wind turbines be allowed? <br /> <br />2. If so, what standards should be applicable to their installation? <br /> <br /> - Should they be allowed only if they are non-functional; i.e., blades do not rotate? <br /> - Should they be allowed if they contain a light or are illuminated by a separate light source? <br /> - Should they be treated as accessory structures or signage and subject to the pertinent <br /> standards for such uses? <br /> <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 02/17/2015 <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes [Page 2 of 21]