Planning Commission will consider revised wind turbine rules

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Caller-Times (TX)
August 4, 2009
By Fanny S. Chirinos
www.caller.com

CORPUS CHRISTI — City zoning officials and a local wind turbine installer disagree on whether proposed changes to the city’s wind turbine ordinance would allow more Corpus Christi residents to have power-generating turbines on their property.

The current ordinance requires 1.5 acres before a wind turbine can be permitted. The proposed ordinance eliminates that requirement, allowing a turbine in property under 1.5 acres through a special-use exception.

The proposed ordinance goes before the city’s planning commissioners, who begin their meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“This (proposed) ordinance is much more liberal for people living inside the city limits,” said Lisa Wargo, a city senior planner. “It also allows for units to be placed closer to each other.”

Tracy Long, co-owner of Corpus Christi-based Alternative Renewable Energy, said city officials made the process more complicated.

“They opened it up to more people but made it more difficult for them to get a turbine installed,” Long said. “Unfortunately, it’s typical of dealing with a governmental entity.”

Long said he has installed about 30 wind turbines, all but three outside the city limits.

City planner Shelly Shelton said three people have gone before the planning commission and have received permits to install wind turbines.

Long has been working with city officials for more than a year to get the ordinance changed. One of his major issues has to do with the permitted sound levels.

The proposed ordinance demands the turbine noise level not exceed five decibels above the ambient sound. Long said the ambient sound is about 50 or so decibels and changes constantly.

“At any given time, the ambient level is higher than it’s supposed to be, even without the turbine,” he said. “Put one in and, depending on who’s wanting to complain, you can get ticketed. People will eventually get used to the low hum, but how many others will be discouraged from installing a renewable energy system before that happens?”