The Winston-Salem Journal ran an article today entitled “Senate bans some wind energy.”
Let me explain why this title is misleading.
Under the state’s Ridge Law, tall structures of more than 40 feet generally are prohibited along the mountain ridges. There are some very limited exceptions. Any reasonable reading of the statute would lead one to conclude that wind turbines (over 40 feet) are prohibited. The language is actually pretty clear. Even the attorney general, Roy Cooper, agreed that wind turbines aren’t allowed on the ridges.
Yesterday, the Senate passed a wind farm siting bill (SB 1068) that would create a state-based system of siting wind farms (there are issues with this law beyond the Ridge Law). The bill also would add express language regarding wind turbines to the Ridge Law. While express language is good, it doesn’t codify the common sense interpretation of the Ridge Law. Instead it allows windmills:
“…if the windmill is associated with a residence, the primary purpose of the windmill is to generate electricity for use within the residence, and the windmill is no more than 100 feet from the base to the turbine hub.“
Under existing law, a wind turbine of more than 40 feet wouldn’t be allowed–now it would be allowed if the bill becomes law. Ironically, the inspiration for the Ridge Law was a condo complex on Sugar Mountain that is 10 stories (about 100 feet). Now the Senate created a special exception for 100-foot wind turbines that can be as tall as the condo that was the motivation for passing the Ridge Law in the first place.
An accurate title of the article would have been something like:
“Senate Weakens the Ridge Law” or “Senate Promotes Wind Energy.”
Most wind power already was banned under the Ridge Law. If this bill becomes law, a lot more wind power would be allowed.
Personally, I don’t support the Ridge Law and blanket bans on construction of “tall” structures, but I certainly don’t think special exceptions should be created for “politically correct” structures.
There were efforts to go even further than this language–there will be a continued push to allow massive industrial turbines that are connected to the grid. I certainly don’t think North Carolina electricity customers should be the ones that are forced to pay extra for electricity in order to subsidize the construction of wind turbines on the ridgelines.
Industrial wind turbines connected to the grid would never be built but for the mandate (SB 3) on utilities to buy electricity from renewable resources. North Carolina electricity customers and their money would be the reason why as much as 100 miles of ridgeline would be ruined by wind turbines.
