March 2009: Workshop on Local Wind Generation
On Monday, March 2, 2009, Shenandoah Forum held a workshop looking at technical specifications and impacts of three scales of wind energy turbines: for individual homes and small businesses, for larger business and agricultural uses, and utility scale. The presentations also included a discussion on what other local governments in Virginia are doing to regulate and permit the full range of wind projects. The target audience for this workshop was local government leaders, planning staff, local elected officials and interested citizens -- residents, farmers and business owners.
Background Information on Local Wind Energy Options:
Shenandoah County is currently considering options for regulating and permitting wind energy turbines within the county. The Board of Supervisors Public Safety & Code committee discussed the concept last November and is expected to take up the matter late in March.
Shenandoah Forum decided to host this discussion so that as the county ponders its options, we have the opportunity to learn about the technical aspects of wind energy generation in our community.
Speakers:
Dr. Maria Papadakis and Dr. Jonathan Miles, from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, presented the technical specifications and impacts of three scales of wind energy turbines.
Dr. Papadakis is professor of Integrated Science and Technology at JMU and Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability. With over 25 years of professional work experience in the federal government and university sectors, she is currently focusing her work on greenhouse gas mitigation, building and facility energy management, energy efficiency and conservation in agriculture, and small-scale renewable energy systems.
Dr. Miles is a professor of Integrated Science and Technology at JMU and an engineer with expertise in energy modeling and analysis and sustainable development. Dr. Miles' professional work at JMU and the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative focuses extensively on research and technical assistance for wind power systems. Dr. Miles has received several awards for his work on wind power development.
John D. Hutchinson V, AICP, a certified planner and the president of The Jennings Gap Partnership in Staunton, Virginia, provided a review of options for ordinance language. Mr. Hutchinson recently conducted a local government ordinances regulating wind turbines for the Shenandoah Valley Network.
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