Supervisors call for permit fee elimination for small wind turbines

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors hopes to expand the county’s “green building program” by exempting small wind turbine systems from building permit fees and streamlining the permit process for that clean energy source.

The supervisors’ 5-0 approval September 26 directs the county’s Chief Administrative Officer to amend the county’s Administrative Code to eliminate the plan check and building permit fee for small wind turbine systems. The elimination of the fee will be part of the annual fees and deposits update which is expected to be considered by the supervisors in December.

“I’m always looking for ways to enhance the county’s green building program and save money for our constituents,” said Supervisor Pam Slater-Price. “We all support finding alternatives for providing energy, and this is just another tool in our toolbox.”

The county’s “green building” incentive program was implemented in 1997 when the supervisors approved a 7.5 percent permit fee reduction and expedited processing for developers whose energy efficiency exceeded standards by more than 25 percent. More than sixty builders took advantage of that program between 1997 and 2001. In 2000 the supervisors eliminated building permit fees and expedited the permit process for photovoltaic electricity installations; approximately 300 applications for solar power permits have been filed so far in 2007.

The Wind Energy Association notes that wind turbine generation can not only offset emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants but can also lower a residential electricity bill by between 50 and 90 percent. The wind turbine system combines with electricity from a power line, allowing for flexibility depending upon wind speeds. Currently the county processes two to three small wind turbine systems annually. The permit fee for a typical residential small wind turbine system is $754.

The elimination of the permit fee does not eliminate any requirements to comply with the county’s Zoning Ordinance, which was amended in September 2003 to address wind energy systems. The county’s 2003 changes established minimum parcel sizes and maximum heights for all wind energy systems, requiring a minimum one-acre parcel size for small and medium wind turbine systems and stipulating a 60-foot maximum height for small and medium turbine systems. Small wind energy systems are defined by the county as one turbine with a blade swept area of up to 220 square feet while medium wind energy systems are defined as one or two turbines with a blade swept area between 220 and 850 square feet. Large wind turbine systems, defined as one or more turbines with more than 850 square feet of blade swept area or three or more turbines of any size, require a minimum five-acre parcel and are restricted to no more than 80 feet in height.

State law covers setback and noise requirements for small wind energy systems. The setback from property lines shall be at least the height of the wind system and no part of the system, including guy wire anchors, shall extend closer than 30 feet to the property boundary. The system must also comply with any applicable fire setback requirements. Decibel levels may not exceed the lesser of 60 decibels or the sound limits of the county noise abatement code, although that is waived for short-term events such as utility outages and severe windstorms. The height shall not exceed 65 feet on a parcel under five acres or 80 feet on a parcel of at least five acres, nor can the height exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations.