When choosing a location for a small wind turbine project, you want to consider the following:
- Local Wind Speeds,
- Zoning Regulations,
- Electrical utilities in your area, and
- Other micro-siting issues.
Wind Speeds and Data
IL County Wind Zoning Point of Contact List
2011 Wind Survey Small Scale County Matrix
U.S. Department of Energy – Small Wind Electric Systems: A Consumer’s Guide
MREA Certified Renewable Energy Site Assessors
Local Government Planning & Zoning Resources
WINDExchange Publishes Distributed Wind Ordinances Slideshow
WINDExchange’s new Distributed Wind Ordinance slideshow provides an introduction to distributed wind projects and a brief overview of topics to consider when developing a distributed wind energy ordinance. This slideshow is the latest in a series that includes PowerPoint versions for anyone wishing to use the material in their outreach efforts
Distributed Wind Energy Association
Distributed Wind Energy Association’s Zoning Resource Center contains facts sheets on distributed wind issues and topics, including model zoning ordinances, turbine certification links and presentations for review.
Distributed Wind Energy Association’s Policy Comparison Tool is funded by the Energy Department and is a one-stop shop for information related to the cost, policies, incentives, and other details associated with on-site wind. It was created to help policy makers, industry representatives, and advocates better understand what makes a successful distributed wind market environment.
American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities.
- Wind Energy Planning: Results of the American Planning Association Survey: The American Planning Association (APA), in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Clarion Associates, and the American Wind Energy Association, and with funding from DOE, is working to produce a guidebook on community planning strategies for successful wind energy implementation. As part of the first phase of this project, APA developed a survey to assess the current state of wind energy planning in communities across the country, discover what challenges planners are facing in planning for, regulating, and implementing wind energy facilities, and ask what information or resources would be most helpful to them in planning for wind energy.
- Planning for Wind Energy Report: The report was developed under the auspices of the Green Communities Research Center, one of APA’s National Centers for Planning. It supports the aim of “20% Wind by 2030” by providing planners with the tools and strategies they need to help plan for, open, and responsibly develop wind energy markets.This report is intended to help community planners effect policy and regulatory change, build stakeholder support, and provide key technical information to public officials.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The Solar & Wind Site Screening Electronic Decision Tree builds on best practices and lessons learned from installing renewable energy projects on contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites, which are captured in the Handbook for Siting Renewable Energy while Addressing Environmental Issues.