New ordinance regulates wind-energy structures

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by Keith Beebe
SUGAR GROVE—The Sugar Grove Village Board on June 1 unanimously approved a renewable-energy ordinance, which will define regulations for all small wind-energy systems constructed in the village.

“Anybody that comes in and wants to put up a small wind-energy system has to meet these regulations,” Community Development Director Richard Young said. “We’re calling this a renewable-energy system ordinance because we fully intend to come back in short order with solar panel designs that we incorporated into this ordinance, and then hopefully geothermal (energy).”

The regulations cover residential and commercial districts, and require all small wind-energy structures to be no more than 50 feet high. The ordinance also requires such structures to have a noise maximum of 55 decibels and a blade-to-ground clearance of 30 feet.

The Sugar Grove Planning Commission on May 19 reviewed the renewable-energy ordinance and passed it on to the Village Board with a recommendation of approval.

Devices are ‘green’

Sugar Grove Community Development Director Richard Young said
small wind-energy systems are hardly a cost-effective option,
and simply represent a green approach to cutting down on pollution.

“Most people want to (build an electricity-generating wind device)
regardless of whether or not it’s cost-effective to them,” Young said.
“For a lot of people, it’s just about going green.”

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