Number
101387
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BOHL
Title
A substitute ordinance relating to zoning regulations for wind energy systems.
Sections
295-201-459-0 am
295-201-612 cr
295-201-690 cr
295-203-15-g-0 am
295-203-15-h cr
295-414 cr
295-503-1 (table) am
295-503-2-s rn
295-503-2-s cr
295-503-2-t rn
295-503-2-u rn
295-503-2-v rn
295-503-2-w rn
295-603-1 (table) am
295-703-1 (table) am
295-803-1 (table) am
295-903-2-a (table) am
295-905-2-a (table) am
295-1015-3-a (table) am
Analysis
This ordinance defines a ”wind energy system” as equipment that converts and then stores or transfers energy from the wind into usable forms of energy, as defined by s. 66.0403(1)(m), Wis. Stats. This equipment includes any base, blade, foundation, generator, nacelle, rotor, tower, transformer, vane, wire, inverter, batteries or other component used in the system.
This ordinance also differentiates between a “small wind energy system” and all other types of wind energy systems. The former is a wind energy system that is used to generate electricity, has a nameplate capacity of 100 kilowatts or less and has a total height of 170 feet or less, where “total height” means the vertical distance from ground level to the tip of a wind generator blade when the tip is at its highest point. Any wind energy system other than a small wind energy system is classified as a “power generation plant,” a land use term currently defined in the zoning code.
In addition, this ordinance classifies a small wind energy system as a limited use in all residential districts, with the limited use standard being that the total height of the wind energy system shall not exceed the district height limit by more than 10 feet. In all other zoning districts, a small wind energy system shall be a permitted use.
The ordinance also sets forth requirements for small wind energy systems relating to:
1. Setbacks from public right-of-way, overhead utility lines and property lines.
2. Pr...
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