Homeowner seeking backyard wind power

Homeowner seeking backyard wind power
By ALLISON BOURG Staff Writer
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A Pasadena man is seeking permission to put two wind turbines on his property near Downs Memorial Park, apparently the first such request to come before the county.
Richard Hawse and his wife, Mary, are not only requesting a zoning variance next week to allow structures taller than 25 feet on his 4-acre property close to Bodkin Point. He's also working with County Council to draft legislation that would allow other homeowners to do the same thing.

"There's no cost advantage for me to do this. It's for the betterment of the community," Mr. Hawse said.

Councilman Ron Dillon, R-Pasadena, said Mr. Hawse approached his office several months ago, looking for the county to establish guidelines on windmills.

Mr. Dillon said he's planning to introduce legislation next month that would permit turbines on private property. The legislation would address property line setbacks and other requirements to protect neighbors. He said Frederick County is crafting a similar statute.

"We truly do need to take a look at alternate energy sources," Mr. Dillon said. "(The Hawses) are the first ones who have come to us about it."

The debate over wind energy has picked up speed in the last few years as oil prices have soared.

Advocates point to turbines as a practical way of producing clean, renewable energy. The wind turns a turbine's blades, which spin a shaft that connects to a generator and makes electricity.

Opponents, on the other hand, complain turbines spoil the landscape, generate irritating shadow flicker and noise and can harm migratory birds. Skeptics also argue that turbines pose a danger to bats, whose sonar can't detect the moving blades at night.

Mr. Hawse said those people are misinformed.

"I think it's just a matter of change," he said. "For every opponent (of turbines), there's a proponent."

The Hawses will appear Tuesday before Administrative Hearing Officer Stephen LeGendre in Annapolis.

Officials from the Office of Planning and Zoning were unavailable for comment yesterday, but both Mr. Hawse and Mr. Dillon believe this would be the first residential turbine in the county if approved.

Mr. LeGendre said another county resident applied for a variance for turbines several months ago, but withdrew the application before a hearing was scheduled.

He said applying for a variance for turbines is just like applying for a variance for anything else. Among other things, Mr. Hawse will have to prove that there will be no adverse impact on neighbors and the structures won't change the character of the neighborhood.

Turbines have been a hot topic in Western Maryland, where wind energycompanies wanted to erect 400-foot-tall wind turbines atop state-owned rural ridges. After loud outcry from Garrett County residents, Gov. Martin O'Malley this spring said he would not allow turbines on state forest land.

Wind power companies are also contemplating offshore turbines near Ocean City.

Talk of turbines in Anne Arundel County has been largely absent until recently. Last week, Del. Ron George, R-Arnold, and Annapolis-based Alpha Energy said they are preparing a $30 million to $40 million proposal for six to 10 wind turbines near the existing radio towers on Greenbury Point.

That site could generate enough electricity to power 3,000 to 6,000 homes, according to projections for the project. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy show the site is the only place on the Chesapeake Bay corridor, outside of its mouth, with enough wind speed to make such a project viable.

Mr. Hawse said he's not sure how high his turbines would be, but he believes they would cost about $11,000 each to erect. He hasn't settled on a design.

"Most of Anne Arundel County doesn't have enough wind for turbines. But on the shoreline, we do," he said.

Mr. Hawse said his property is large and wooded enough that shadow flicker will not bother his neighbors. If Mr. LeGendre grants the variance, the turbines will be behind the Hawses' home, which he said can't be seen from the road.

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The hearing will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the County Council Chambers, on the first floor of the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. in Annapolis.

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Published 09/20/08, Copyright © 2008 Maryland Gazette,
Glen Burnie, Md.
Copyright © 2007 Maryland Gazette


I will be attending the hearing and will let you know how it goes. This is history in the making for our county. No one has ever applied for this variance.