Controlling wind power

By The Daily Progress

Published: September 18, 2008

Currently, Albemarle County homeowners cannot erect private wind turbines to generate electricity for their homes or farms.
The county Planning Commission appears to be opening its collective mind to that idea.

But in order for the idea to work, the county must do two things:
—Win at least the tacit support of residents.

—Find reasonable locations for wind turbines and establish other realistic regulations.
These two needs are mutually dependent. Constituent support will be impossible to win unless locations are found and regulations devised that limit the adverse visual impact of the wind towers.

In the face of that fact, Albemarle should appoint an ad hoc committee to study those issues and make recommendations.
Albemarle has a strong constituency in favor of rural preservation — including the preservation of scenic views. The county has put its political power and the taxpayers’ money behind that ethic with such programs as Acquisition of Conservation Easements.
Wind turbines up to three stories tall, or taller, may be viewed as contrary to those aims.

And so the county should acknowledge the apparent contradiction, and get to work devising a strategy that can allow both goals to succeed.
Bringing preservation advocates into the debate early on would be both politically smart and practical. Working out a mutually acceptable compromise in advance would be far better for the county, for preservation and for energy than waiting for a divisive debate over wind turbines.
Although the towers are considered unattractive by some, we are reaching a critical point on energy consumption where we must press forward with energy alternatives.

Wind power is potentially accessible to many people. Allowing individuals, under the right conditions, to make that choice for themselves is to advance a new partial solution for their home energy needs, one that takes advantage of free enterprise and personal initiative.
Private wind turbines aren’t likely to be a cure-all. But we needn’t be either overly optimistic or overly cautious about alternative energy. We do need to keep an open mind and be willing to try some experiments.

Working with constituents and stakeholders, county officials could set up reasonable restrictions on where wind turbines can be placed.