Canada - The Canadian way of installing your very own wind turbine

If you live in Sault Ste. Marie and have 25,000 to 65,000 dollars to spare, City Council decided Monday its OK to treat yourself to a residential-size wind turbine and install it on your property. Council approved the policy upon the recommendation of the Engineering and Planning Department. Higher energy costs, bad effects on the environment and a drain on Ontario’s power grid have led the province to encourage energy projects that use renewable resources, like wind. We’ve all been watching with fascination the development of the massive, industrial-size wind turbine project north of the Sault, but new programs are in place to encourage residential wind turbines (again, of course, if you have the money to spare). A 400 watt unit will cost you about 800 dollars, and will power up your TV and a few light bulbs in your home. But turbines more commonly associated with home use are 3 kilowatts to 10 kilowatts, hence the higher price range of 25,000 to 65,000 dollars (industrial size turbines range from 1.5 megawatts to 2 megawatts).

A net metering program has been put in place by the province for residential wind, solar, hydro and biomass mechanisms which can be connected to the electrical grid, so a homeowner can sell any excess energy for credit. The local power authority would subtract the value of electricity fed to the grid from how much is being taken from the grid. Credit can be carried forward for up to one year. Net metering applies to small-scale, residential energy projects that produce 10 kilowatts of power or less. At an October 2005 City Council meeting a local wind installer felt that regulations for residential wind turbine installations were too restrictive. Council directed City Staff to look at re-examining zoning bylaws to accommodate small-scale turbine installations. The amended by-law 2005-150 groups “Commercial Wind Generating Systems” into the Rural Area, Medium Industrial and Heavy Industrial Zones, while all zones come under an “Accessory Use Wind Turbines” (or smaller-scale, residential use) category.

Just exactly where you may place your turbine on your residential property depends on some mathematical calculations, so get out your calculator. Turbines must be set back from your lot line equal to 110 percent of the overall height of your turbine, when its blade is at its highest position. Turbines must also be set back from any residential zone boundary equal to 200 percent of the overall height of your turbine, when its blade is at its highest position. A building permit must also be obtained from the Public Utilities Commission after the PUC approves your written request. There is also a limit of one wind turbine per residential lot. There have been concerns raised in many places where the residential wind turbine question has surfaced, such as California, the United Kingdom and other communities in Ontario, such as Toronto, Windsor and North Bay.

These concerns include noise created when wind passes over the rotor blades. However, scientific studies show that the noise created is no greater than the usual neighbourhood noise, known as “urban hum,” and certainly not as great as the noise generated by rowdy neighbours. Who knows, the wind just may force them to move away! There are also concerns from some who are always resistant to change. Some argue argue that wind turbines are a new, modern, odd-looking eyesore. Then again, are radio towers, hydro poles and lines and water towers eyesores? Those worried about noise and the beauty of the landscape being ruined need not worry too much. With the cost associated with residential wind turbines, not many property owners are likely to be in a rush to buy one--at least not until prices go down.