Several new instructions and guidelines as well as laws or local regulations have been enforced since the early 1980’s. Each state differs in laws and penalties for windmill power. Before you invest time and money in a windmill, find out these important facts.
Although wind turbines have gained a lot of acceptance in the United States, locally you might have ordinances that regulate free standing wind turbines like height or noise restrictions. But these ordinances aren’t extensive to the point of making it impossible to own a wind turbine. Some consumers read more into the regulations and guideline laws than they need to. Taken in the right perspective, a homeowner can have a wind turbine and still abide by these laws, in most cases.
Almost every state has restrictions, including a law that wind turbine fields cannot be built where birds are migrating. The state with the most conflict on building and raising windmills is California. There have been a few documented cases of lawsuits over windmills and their existence in different counties. Out of all the arguments made against wind turbines there is one point that is addressed by almost every state: how wind turbines affect the scenery. However, small wind turbines are being installed all over the United States without permits or fees to any government agencies.
Not many people actually build their own windmills anymore. There are so many companies and manufacturers on the market with many machines at reasonable prices that it is hard to justify the time and expense to build a wind turbine yourself. The companies also know most of the specs and guidelines to go by in your area, such as height of the tower, ordinances and installation the proper way. The consideration of this alternate energy resource is becoming even more popular as fuel prices increase. More windmills are expected to be sold or built in the future. Its not a “phase.”
As you can see, the United States is somewhat divided as far as laws and restrictions for small windmills. The biggest restriction consumers usually come up against are zoning laws. Therefore, it is essential for consumers to research their individual location. The Department of Environmental Protection probably knows more about general permits and environment statutes than any other single agency. They can also let you know about general requirements or conditions for windmill installation, as well as taxes that might be incurred.
It seems, as with every legitimate investment, there are rules and laws to abide by. They are designed for our protection as well as for the protection of the environment. However, just like any other law that might concern a consumer, that doesn’t mean we don’t buy anything, or consider the benefits. We simply follow the rules and guidelines. And save energy as well. The long term view of having a modern home wind turbine as an alternate source of energy is worth whatever hoops we have to jump through.
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