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Renewable Energy: Wind Energy: Model Wind Ordinance
The adoption of wind technology at a variety of scales across Utah has prompted a need at the municipal level for guidance on how to regulate the siting and installation of wind energy systems. The United States Department of Energy Fact Sheet on Wind Ordinances describes the type of issues that local governments most often feel compelled to address with a wind ordinance.
Senate Joint Resolution 1 of the 2009 Utah Legislative Session tasked the Utah State Energy Program with developing a model wind ordinance. The ordinance was created through the work of the Utah Wind Working Group with input from a variety of stakeholders.
The Utah Model Wind Ordinance document incorporates comments from:
- City of Monticello
- Iron County
- Private Citizens
- PacifiCorp
- Salt Lake City Corporation
- Utah Clean Energy
- Utah Division of Wildlife
- Utah League of Cities and Towns
- Utah Wind Working Group
This language was also sent to the Resource Development Coordinating Committee (RDCC) and made available for further public comment in late 2009. Since then the Utah Wind Working Group has met to incorporate the comments gathered by the RDCC, resulting in the final version of the Model Wind Ordinance.
The Utah State Energy Program recommends this ordinance as a best practices document for cities and counties to consider when developing their own wind ordinances. If your office would like assistance developing an ordinance, or has questions regarding this language, please contact Jeffrey Barrett.
Other Resources
- DOE Wind Energy Ordinances Fact Sheet
This is a quick reference guide to wind energy ordinances developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. - In the Public Interests: How and Why to Permit for Small Wind Systems
This user-friendly guide for state and local governments explains the reasoning behind many aspects of small wind zoning regulations and addresses common misconceptions about small wind energy systems. - Utah Clean Energy’s Wind Zoning and Ordinances