| By :
Roger Brown
The first things to do when considering wind turbine power is check local zoning restrictions. Many communities spell out exactly what kind of turbine you can put up on your property and what kind you can't. Usually there are ways to accommodate those restrictions, so the sooner you find out and understand the permitting required the better. The reason for the rules is fear that the turbines will ruin property values. Proponents of wind turbines say that some action needs to be taken to avert the economic effects of diminishing fossil fuel supplies. Some compromise must be reached for wind to continue to advance as a viable alternative, though. For example, in some areas like Cape Cod, where there is a lot of wind turbine activity, the rules are very detailed and specific to windmills. Some specifics in Cape Cod are: • All turbines need to be mounted at least 1.5 times their height away from occupied buildings. • Noise standards - all projects over 660 kW must have a noise study. Larger turbines can create quite a bit of noise and need to be mounted higher. The higher they are mounted, the less noise reaches the ground and the better the overall wind as well. • Shadow flicker - the impact from shadow flicker must be minimal less than an hour a month. (Shadow flicker is the shadow the blades make as they are turning - the closer to the equator, the worse the flicker.) • Height threshold - 65 foot height threshold for tower structures with wind turbines. The higher the turbines are mounted the less obtrusive they are and the better wind they are able to take advantage of. These are the major issues that communities want to address. Before you begin getting into the details of which particular wind turbine to buy, it makes sense to check out these possible obstacles and decide how you will address them. That way, you can specify local requirements when sorting out optional wind turbine packages. It costs nothing to do your homework and it could save you a lot by understanding what specifics your local community may require. The type of wind turbine power source that you pick can then be tailor made to the local community and customized for YOUR property which will maximize the chances of success.
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