CLEARLAKE ? The Clearlake City Council adopted an ordinance Thursday for regulating installation and use of small wind energy systems (SWES). In addition to adopting the ordinance, a new permit process has been established pertaining to installation requirements.
The ordinance was met with the complete approval of applicant Russell Jonas, who spoke on behalf of Jonas Energy Solutions, which recently began the selling of small wind turbines. Jonas said the request for formal regulation was brought forth in effort to simplify the permit process and avoid repetitive visits before the planning commission and council as sales of the SWESs continue.
Jonas, accompanied by Duane Phelps, provided the council with a brief overview of wind renewable energy sources. The presentation highlighted advances in technology and product availability as well as government rebates and incentives.
“We are trying to find ways to create energy efficiently in Lake County,” Jonas said. “There are a lot of options out there and we happen to be in a good location for harvesting pockets of wind generation.”
According to Jonas, Lower Lake represents the sixth windiest area in the northern California region behind Glenhaven and locations within the Altamont Pass.
Jonas also said that The California Energy Commission (CEC) offers rebates of $2.50 per watt generated while the federal government offers a 30 percent rebate on the installation cost.
The ordinance adding a chapter to the city”s zoning code, defines permit requirements, application materials, regulations, aesthetics and maintenance, signs and labels, repair SWESs will be permitted in all zone districts if all requirements are met.
The application will include standard drawings and an engineering analysis of the system”s tower and certification by a professional, mechanical, structural or civil engineer licensed by the State of California; and a line drawing of the electrical components of the system. The application process also includes utility notification unless the applicant does not plan to connect the system to the electricity grid.
All SWESs must be approved by the CEC. Minimum lot size is 5,000 square feet. No part of the SWES can be located within or over drainage, utility or other established easements.
A maximum of one SWES per parcel is permitted on parcels less than one acre in size. A maximum of one SWES per acre is permitted on parcels greater than one acre.
Minimum setbacks are the same as those set forth within any particular zone; however, the location may be modified as part of the site plan review permit to place the SWES as far as possible from the property lines. SWESs will not be allowed in the front or side yards with frontage.
The maximum height for lots less than one half acre is 30 feet and 40 feet for lots greater than one half acre. Turbines and towers may produce no illumination. Noise cannot exceed a maximum of 60 CNEL as measured at the closest neighboring dwelling. These levels, however, may be exceeded during short-term events such as utility outages and severe wind storms.
SWESs are to be equipped with both manual and automatic controls to limit the rotational speed of the blade within the design limits of the rotor.
An external, manual shut-off switch is to be included in the installation.
The minimum distance between the ground and any protruding blades is to be 10 feet as measured at the lowest point of the arc of the blades.
SWESs found to be unsafe by the building official are to immediately cease operation and repaired to meet federal, state and local safety standards or removed within six months. SWESs that are not operated for a continuous period of 12 months are to be removed by the owner.
Exceptions may be granted through an approved conditional use permit.
The new permit process related to SWESs involves issuing Site Plan Review Permits. The process provides the city administrator and planning commission with flexibility in approving and reviewing site plans.
The SWES ordinance is available for public review in its entirety at Clearlake City Hall during regular business hours. For more information call the City of Clearlake at 994-8201.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
