Chapter 6 Permitting Basics

If you have a good wind resource and land that is well-suited for wind turbines, you still must consider how your community views and regulates wind power. Communities around the country are working to find the best ways to permit and tax wind generation facilities. Their decisions are vital to windy areas because they determine the impacts and benefits of wind energy projects for the broader community. Some states, like Minnesota, have developed statewide policies but still involve local agencies in the process, while most states leave it to the counties or other local permitting agencies to create regulations and issue permits.

Good project planning means knowing early on what the local requirements are and designing the project to be consistent with those requirements. Investigating zoning laws early in the development of your wind project can help avoid unnecessary delays. This section is intended to give you a quick overview of permitting and zoning regulations in several Midwest states.

Topics covered in this section include:

* Permitting Authorities

* Permitting - State by State

* Conclusion