PZC: Big Thumbs Up For Small Wind

While the landscape may not quickly fill up with 40-foot wind turbine towers, small wind systems, a renewable energy source, will soon be allowed in Stonington, albeit not in population centers like downtown Mystic or Pawcatuck.  

The new regulation, approved Tuesday night by the Planning and Zoning Commission, will go into effect Nov. 7.

“I’d like to thank [applicant Julia Roberts] for bringing this regulation to us,” said commission member Robert Marseglia after the unanimous vote.

Roberts, who sits on the Stonington Borough Planning and Zoning Commission, made her application for an amendment to the town zoning rules to include new regulations permitting small wind systems this past summer. The subject of a public hearing and two separate deliberations by the commission, Robert’s proposal allows for the small wind turbines that are essentially electric generators that harness wind energy thereby creating emission-free power.

The systems are designed to be used primarily by homeowners, farmers, and small businesses. Small wind  systems generally produce enough energy to power household appliances but if a small wind energy system produces more electricity, the owner can put that back into the grid and receive credit for future use should they need it.

The new rules require the systems have a fixed tower height not over 40 feet and be in a neutral color palette. Marseglia said he was worried that some might consider using outlandish colors to paint the towers.

“I might sound ridiculous,” he said. “But [someone might] get creative and paint it candy stripe, red and white. That could be a problem.”

Acting PZC Chairman Ben Tamsky cautioned that the commission should not be “legislating taste by telling people what color they can paint something.”

Ultimately, members agreed regulation language stating original manufacturer color must be maintained would suffice.

The regulations also call for the systems to be as a quiet refrigerator and not cast a “discernible vibration or shadow.”

The one requirement that has caused at least a few commissioners, as well as the applicant, some concern is the restriction that the small wind systems would only be permitted on lots of at least 40,000 square feet. So, based on lot size, only about 25 percent of the community would be permitted to install a small wind system; one per lot in approved residential zones and two per parcel in permitted commercial zones. More than one commissioner called that move discriminatory but at the end of the day agreed it is a rule that would be re-visited after the regulation had been in place for a year or two.

Small wind systems will not be permitted in non-infringement or buffer areas or inland or tidal wetlands.

Residents that wish to install a small wind system must file a site plan with the town planning department.

Roberts, who was not at Tuesday’s meeting and whom Patch was unable to reach for comment, previously praised the PZC for its work on the small wind renewable energy regulation: “The Commission has been careful with this to make sure it didn’t go down the tubes. I give them a lot of credit…they’re community volunteers and this is all very new. They wanted to make sure they got it right so there wouldn’t be any backlash.”