1. Wind Energy Permitting
Mia Devine, Spark Northwest
July 2019
Our Wind Cooperative, Montana Photo credit: Spark Northwest

2. One size doesn’t fit all
Small
Medium
Large
CBD Ranch, Klickitat
Cascade Community Wind
Puget Sound Energy

3. Bassetti Ranch 10 kW 12,000 kWh/year 10 mph average wind speed
Irrigates orchard
Installed in 2004 for $40,000
8-month permitting process
Challenges included
recording the official wind speed on the property
receiving both aviary and archaeological surveys
public hearings.
CDB Ranch, Klickitat County
Photo credit: CBD Ranch

4. Financial Incentives Net metering (reduced utility bill)
Up to 3%/yr
Net metering (reduced utility bill)
Federal Investment Tax Credit
30% in 2019, 26% in 2020, 22% in 2021
MACRS Accelerated Depreciation for businesses
USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant for farms or rural small businesses
30%
10 to 20%
Up to 25%

5. Wind data source: NREL, includes turbines rated at 100 kW or less
Wind data source: NREL, includes turbines rated at 100 kW or less. Solar data source: Washington State University

6. Data source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance “2015 Factbook: Sustainable Energy in America” Wind data includes only turbines 100 kW or less. Solar data includes only “small-scale” solar.

7. Installed Cost ($/Watt)
Wind data : Bloomberg New Energy Finance “2015 Factbook: Sustainable Energy in America” Solar data source: LBNL “Tracking the Sun VII”, systems up to 10 kW in size.

8. Local Permitting is a Significant Barrier
It can take more person-hours to obtain a permit to install than it does to manufacture, deliver, and install a small wind turbine.
For small wind systems, permitting can cost just as much or more than the equipment
Difficult permitting is the largest barrier to small wind development
Source: Distributed Wind Energy Association
Photo from Byers and Renier Construction, NREL 18222

9. https://sparknorthwest
Wind Permit Toolkit
The packet includes
An information sheet with an overview of permitting issues and examples of how some jurisdictions have implemented best practices
It includes a template over the counter permit checklist that lists the minimal structural characteristics that a proposed solar PV system must satisfy in order to be deemed to comply with engineering requirements. If all of the checklist criteria are met, the building permit may be issued over the counter without an engineer’s stamped drawing. This template can be used by jurisdictions as is, or you can modify it with your jurisdiction logo, contact information, and any jurisdiction-specific instructions. There is both a building permit checklist that complies with the new emergency rule and an example electrical checklist for those jurisdictions that issue their own electrical permits.

10. Zoning Ordinance: Height Limit
Recommended Actions:
Clarify that maximum height is defined by “Max Tip Height” rather than hub height.
Increase maximum allowable tip height to 200 feet.
Max Tip Height
Tower Height
Current code defines tower height to include hub height – confusing, hard to verify.
DOE: A turbine height restriction can curtail capacity and limit access to a strong wind resource, and it may result in a proposed installation being unable to generate enough energy to be financially viable. Height limits should be set to address safety concerns.
At a minimum, small distributed wind turbines should have 25 to 35 vertical feet of clearance above surrounding local obstructions.**

11. Zoning Ordinance: Setbacks
Recommended Actions:
Reduce the setback requirement to one times the tower height rather than 1.2 times the tower height.

12. Zoning Ordinance: Visual Appearance
Recommended Actions:
Eliminate (2): “…shall, to the extent reasonably possible, use materials, colors, textures, screening and landscaping that will blend the WES to the natural setting and the existing environment.”
Photo from Pika Energy, NREL 33943

13. Zoning Ordinance: Sound
Recommended Actions:
Instead of specifying a specific decibel rating, state that “During normal operation, the SWES/WES shall comply with the sound requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.
Clarify that a SWES is exempt from the sound complaint process ( ). The cost would be excessive and represent a significant financial risk to the SWES owner.
Does Whatcom County have a list of qualified consultants that are available to conduct a sound measurement within 10 business days?

14. Buyer Beware: Equipment Certification

15.
9/2/2019