Brandon Twp.- Wind turbines haven’t cropped up on the township landscape yet; however, as the push toward renewable energy grows, officials here are taking a proactive approach and may soon consider ordinances addressing wind turbines and alternative energy sources.
A representative from Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc. will give a presentation on alternative energy during the next township planning commission meeting, 7:30 p.m., April 14, at the township offices, 395 Mill St.
Doug Lewan, the township planning consultant, said the planning commission asked Carlisle/Wortman to present an overview of different technologies available and to discuss potential ordinances.
‘There is a lot of interest in this in our communities and people want to look at them on individual properties,? said Lewan. ‘Right now, we have no regulations (regarding wind turbines). It’s one of those new technologies we don’t think of and are trying to develop language that we would incorporate into the zoning ordinance. People are looking for alternative energy resources, it’s the world we live in today.?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s website (www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_how.html), wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power, which can be used for specific tasks, such as grinding grain or pumping water, or a generator can convert the power into electricity.
Commercial wind turbines are often grouped together in wind farms. They commonly have three blades, ranging in size from 65 to 130 feet or more that are found at the top of a steel tower that may reach 200-300 feet tall. These large scale utility turbines can provide rent for farmers, typically $3,000 to $5,000 per year, depending on how windy the area, said Josh Long, a planner with Carlisle/Wortman.
However, while Michigan ranks 14th However, while Michigan ranks 14th among all 50 states for wind energy potential by the Wind Energy Association, the majority of potential is found on the west side of the state and in the thumb area, due to the Great Lakes, Long said. Southeast Michigan is not the best area for large wind turbines, but small, residential turbines are a different story.
‘Wind turbines for personal use can be set up at 30-60 feet, for one to five kilowatts of power, and can reduce your energy bills to zero,? Long said.
Customers using net metering, in which they have their own renewable energy system, can sell back unused energy to a utility company and reduce their bill.
While wind turbines don’t work well for dense urban areas or suburbs, they could work well in a more rural area like Brandon, given 1-2 acre lots. However, trees block the wind and residents with many trees on their property would need to get above the trees, which may not be possible depending on zoning ordinances. Vertical axis turbines, which resemble egg beaters, don’t produce as much electricity, but work better with lower winds and more turbulent winds.
The visual impact of turbines on 2-3 acres of land is minimal, Long notes, with a 30-60 foot turbine about twice as tall as a house. Small wind turbines make about as much noise a refrigerator, air conditioner, or normal conversation? roughly 60 decibels, but as the wind gets higher, the noise rises, also.
‘During wind gusts or a stormy day, the sound of the turbine gets temporarily higher, but the background noise gets higher, too,? Long said.
Newer wind turbine systems, not yet widely available, are marketed in the $2,000-$5,000 range, he said, while a typical horizontal access system is $12,000-$15,000.
‘In the long run it’s worth it,? Long said. ‘It depends on how much money you’re ready to sacrifice at first and how long you’re willing to wait to be paid back. It always makes sense as far as reducing your carbon emissions and is generally a good investment in the long run.?