Prince George, B.C. - The Regional District of Fraser Fort George  now has a bylaw in place to deal with wind mills. This is not the type that would be used on a windfarm as the Regional District says those will be dealt with through environmental assessment, rather, the RDFFG wanted to have some rules on the books that will cover the location and size of windmill put on private lands to create power for private land owners.

 

The new bylaw puts in place a rule that cover the placement of a freestanding windmill on property.  The set back for a windmill will be 1.5 multiplied by the height of the windmill away from the property line ( see diagram on right)

 

 And the maximum height for a windmill has been set. The maximum height of a freestanding windmill on private land is pegged at 30 meters from the ground to the top of the rotor arc. For safety purposes, free standing windmills would be required to have a 6 metre clearance from the ground to the bottom of the rotor arc.

 

The Regional District says it supports the development of clean energy sources and the intent of the bylaw is not to restrict windmills. The main thrust of the regulations relate to safety issues, particularly the possibility of toppling, or ice throw from the rotor.

 

The bylaw also sets limits for roof top windmills.

 

The bylaw sets a limit of windmills of one per 8 hectares.