Winds of Change: Home Turbines Increasingly Attractive

Charlene Godown heeded every bit of energy-saving advice on the market. She installed double-paned windows, energy-efficient appliances and those earth-friendly, corkscrew light bulbs in her Carbon County home. Still, her monthly electricity bill was hitting $500.

Inspiration struck. Why not build a windmill for her 1,500-square-foot house on her 10 acres in Franklin Township?

Wind-generated power could cut her bill in half.

The problem? The township had nothing on the books regulating wind turbines, no ordinance to dictate everything from where it will be placed, to the height and size of the structure to the color.

Godown’s quandary draws attention to an issue that’s not just facing Franklin: despite a growing interest in alternative energy, many municipalities have no law on the books addressing wind power, an energy source that dates back to some of the earliest civilizations.

Last year, nearly 8,000 small wind turbines were sold in the United States, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Half were for residential use. In 2006, around 6,800 units were sold.

The market has grown 14 percent to 25 percent annually since 1990, the association’s research shows.

"The interest is pretty much booming," said Stimmel.

Residents are often the ones that bring zoning gaps to a municipality’s attention.

Penn Forest, Carbon County, adopted a windmill ordinance in November after the township received several inquiries from residents interested in getting one, said zoning officer Joseph Steber.

Steber said he thought the energy crisis was one of the reasons for the growing interest.

One of those who pushed for the ordinance was Paul Montemuro, who is looking into getting a windmill for both his house and business.

"You’ve got your pros and cons. There are people who worry about noise, the environment, like birds and all that. Everybody comes from different angles," said Montemuro, who is now a supervisor (He did not vote on the ordinance, which was passed last year).

But Montemuro said that with the high wind in the area, windmills make sense.

Concerns range from the number of windmills and their height to ones about aesthetics and impact on wildlife. Not having zoning in place is an issue, though, because it can discourage people from building windmills, said Ron Stimmel, a small-wind advocate for the American Wind Energy Association.

"Zoning remains a huge obstacle on the market. It’s the No. 2 biggest barrier for the small turbine market," said Stimmel.

The top obstacle? Cost, said Stimmel. Depending on the size Godown gets, it will cost between $7,000 and $12,000 to purchase and install the windmill. Other units can cost up to $50,000, according to the U.S. Energy Department. Godown is receiving $2,500 in tax write-offs through the state to help offset the cost. But unlike solar panels, no federal tax credits are available to encourage consumers to go wind-powered.

Last year, Tunkhannock Township, Monroe County, was one of a handful of municipalities to get a free windmill through a state energy grant. It’s 32 feet tall and saves the township $230 to $300 per month.

For the township, saving money was huge. But so was the board’s desire to reduce its carbon footprint, said Bruce Walder, township roadmaster, who oversees municipal properties.

"I’ve only had two people say it was ugly. The majority think it’s aesthetically pleasing," said Walder. "Anything we can do to lessen the demand on oil."

Franklin resolved Godown’s request by giving her a variance, allowing her to place a wind turbine up to 50 feet high, 15 feet taller than current zoning allows for buildings, flagpoles or any other structure. Hers will be the second residence in Carbon County approved to have a windmill.

Godown, whose large property will hide the windmill from view, settled her situation pretty simply.

"They were actually pretty wonderful and helped me walk through the processes. We were all learning," said Godown. "They’re very interested in what this could mean for the township and its residents."

But the township has yet to pass an ordinance regulating windmills.

Supervisors "have some questions yet. They want a little more information before they finalize the ordinance," said township Secretary Sandy Gaumer.

CATCH THE WIND

So you want to install a wind turbine?

Your property should be at least an acre to accommodate it. A 50-foot-high turbine, for example, needs to be that far from the property line.

Check to see if there’s enough wind in your area to make it worth your while. Check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s Web site and click on "Wind Resource Maps."

Check with your municipality to see if they have an ordinance regulating windmills. Many do not.