Supervisors OK wind energy systems in Nelson County

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance last week that allows small wind energy systems to be built within the county, nearly a year after initial discussions began.

The ordinance that the supervisors approved at their Nov. 10 meeting allows freestanding or building-mounted towers that contain a wind conversion system used to reduce the consumption of on-site electricity.

The maximum height restriction is 45 feet on a parcel of one or two acres, 60 feet on a parcel that is two to five acres and 100 feet on parcels five acres or larger.

Building-mounted wind systems are installed on a building or the roof.

For all zoning districts, supervisors also approved the installation of one building-mounted small energy system in parcels less than one acre, and one tower or building-mounted system permitted by right in parcels greater than one acre or larger. A conditional use permit is required for additional towers in all zoning districts.

The ordinance also requires the wind system to be set back 110 percent of its extended height from surrounding property lines, public and private roads and overhead utility lines. It requires that all electrical interconnections be underground and that the system cannot interfere with television or other communication signals.

Building permit applications are also required to construct such a system, according to the ordinance, along with standard drawings of the structure and an engineering analysis and of the structure showing compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by a licensed professional engineer.

Central District Supervisor Connie Brennan said she was “excited” about the ordinance.

“I’d love to see some people try to generate some power,” Brennan said.

Last December, supervisors voted 3-2, with East District Supervisor Allen Hale and West District Supervisor Thomas Bruguiere voting no, to send a draft wind energy ordinance to the Nelson County Planning Commission.

Fred Boger, Nelson County’s planning and zoning director, said then that the ordinance came about because several residents were interested.

Commissioners spent more than six months on the ordinance before holding a public hearing at their July meeting, during which three people spoke in favor of it.

In August, the commission approved the draft ordinance and sent it to the supervisors, who appointed Hale and South District Supervisor Joe Dan Johnson to continue work on it.

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the ordinance in September, at which no one spoke.