1. Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine. A horizontal axis large wind turbine system shall be permitted as per the standards in this section.

2. Vertical Axis Wind Turbine. A vertical axis large wind turbine system shall be permitted as per the standards in this section.

1. Energy Production Purpose. Large wind turbine systems shall be primarily sized and installed for the purpose of generating energy for an on-site use (e.g., a school, industry, office building). The large wind turbine system shall be sized to not produce more than two hundred percent (200%) of the annual on-site electricity needs.

2. Rated Power Limits. A large wind turbine system shall have a minimum rated power of eleven kilowatts (11kW) and shall have a maximum rated power level of five hundred kilowatts (500kW).

3. Lot Size. A minimum two (2) acre lot shall be required for a large wind turbine system to be installed.

4. Manufacturer’s Installation Specifications. Any permitted large wind turbine system shall be installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications unless in conflict with applicable standards in the Jasper County Unified Development Code. When conflicts exist, the following standards shall apply:

1. Time Frame. A meteorological tower shall be permitted for up to eighteen (18) months.

2. Notification. A notification shall be made to the Planning Department prior to installation of the meteorological tower. If notification is not provided, a violation will occur.

3. Removal. The meteorological tower shall be removed prior to construction of the large wind turbine.

1. Minimum Ratings. A large wind turbine system shall be manufactured to meet all applicable industry standards for manufacturing practices and safety.

2. Experimental Turbines. A large wind turbine system that does not meet the applicable minimum ratings shall be considered experimental and shall not be permitted.

3. Connection to the Grid. A large wind turbine system that is intended to be connected to the power grid shall be IEEE 1547 compliant (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems).

1. Tower Mounted Systems. A horizontal axis large wind turbine system designed for tower mounting shall be mounted on a monopole. Lattice towers and towers with guy wires shall not be permitted.

2. Roof Mounted. A large wind turbine system shall not be permitted to be mounted on a roof.

3. Ground Mounted Systems. A vertical axis large wind turbine system designed for ground mounting shall be mounted on the ground.

1. Tower Mounted. The maximum tower height for a large wind turbine system shall be 120 feet for lots under five (5) acres, and 140 feet for lots five (5) acres or greater.

2. Roof Mounted. Large wind turbine systems are not permitted to be mounted on a roof.

3. Ground Mounted. The maximum height of all components of a ground mounted large wind turbine system shall be sixty (60) feet.

1. Small Lot. A lot with fifteen (15) acres or less shall be restricted to one (1) horizontal axis or vertical axis large wind turbine system.

2. Large Lots. A lot with more than fifteen (15) acres may have up to two (2) horizontal axis or vertical axis large wind turbine systems.

1. Setback from Property Line. A large wind turbine system shall be a minimum of 100 feet or two hundred percent (200%) of the hub height from the property line, whichever is greater.

2. Setback from On-Site Buildings. A large wind turbine system shall be required to be setback 100 feet from any on-site primary building. There is no required setback from accessory structures.

3. Setback from Off-Site Land Uses. A large wind turbine system shall be a minimum of 1,000 feet from a platted residential subdivision, multiple-family residential development, institutional use (e.g., school or church), land zoned single-family residential, land zoned multiple-residential, or land zoned institutional. These standards only apply to off-site properties and should not be construed as restricting any of the above listed types of development (e.g., school or multiple-family development) from choosing to have an on-site large wind turbine system.

4. Setback from Utilities. A large wind turbine system shall be a minimum of 200 feet or two hundred percent (200%) of the hub height from above ground transmission lines, utility lines, or substations, whichever is greater.

1. Ground Clearance. The rotors (i.e., blades) of a horizontal axis large wind turbine system mounted on a tower shall not extend vertically to within thirty (30) feet of the ground.

2. Anti-icing Technology. A large wind turbine system shall be equipped with technology able to detect icing on rotors that causes the system to shut down when experiencing a significant icing event; or shall utilize another industry accepted standard for protecting against shedding of significant pieces of ice capable of damaging nearby buildings and/or injuring persons or animals on the ground.

3. Controls and Brakes. A large wind turbine system shall be equipped with a redundant braking system that includes both aerodynamic overspeed controls (i.e., variable pitch, tip, and other similar systems) and mechanical brakes.

1. Noise. A large wind turbine system shall not generate more than pre-construction ambient sound level plus 5 dBA (dBA L₉₀ + 5dBA) or forty (40) decibels (40dBA L₉₀) whichever is greater at the property line.

2. Illumination. A large wind turbine system shall not be illuminated in any way unless required by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations shall be demonstrated to the Zoning Administrator prior to installation. If signal lighting is required on the top of a large wind turbine system, then it shall be shielded to prevent light below the horizontal plain.

3. Shadow Flicker. The flickering effect caused by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required signal light or sunlight combined with the turning of the rotor shall be mitigated to the extent possible with the best known technology or practice.

4. Color. A large wind turbine system shall be a nonobtrusive color such as white, off-white, gray, earth tones, or similar nonreflective colors.

5. Signage. No large wind turbine system shall be used to display a commercial message.

6. Signal Interference. The owner shall make reasonable efforts to avoid any disruption or loss of radio, telephone, television or similar signals, and shall mitigate any harm caused by the large wind turbine system.

7. Feeder Lines. Feeder lines for wind turbines (e.g., between wind turbines and the on-site structure which utilizes the power) shall be placed underground.

8. Spin Direction. Horizontal axis wind turbines shall have a rotor that spins clockwise when viewed from an upwind position. Vertical axis wind turbines shall spin clockwise when viewed from above.