Posted by David Hamilton on December 3rd, 2009

As recently reported in Cville, the Albemarle County Planning Commission has decided to consider allowing small-scale wind turbines, with some restrictions.  A proposal will be debated on December 9th.

This is a difficult issue for planners, as a primary focus of their rural planning initiatives has been the preservation of the landscape’s character, which many citizens find incompatible with wind development.  So far, it appears the direction of the Commission is to allow small-scale turbines, but to sharply restrict their installation in Mountain Overlay Districts (several peaks of Bundoran Farm, above about 1000′ elevation).

The trouble appears to be that, of course, that’s where the wind is.  In fact, it seems unlikely that the battle over major grid-connected wind power will be coming to the area, because, as this map shows, windspeeds are more commercially-viable in the mountains to our west, and offshore. 

This issue is becoming extremely contentious in some of the other areas where Qroe works, particularly in upstate New York and Connecticut, which have both viable 50-meter windspeed, and major metropolitan power grids nearby.  In the neighborhood of Bundoran Farm, the community has a far less loaded debate.  Nearly all of us would agree that a little less coal burned at a power plant is a good thing, and that we for the most part find a farm windmill out next to the barn to be a visual delight.  What is the image of the modern small-scale wind turbine that we find consistent with our image of rural land?

Filed under: General