Rules to be set for wind turbines

SAN BENITO — The city is making way for wind turbines that are popping up around the Rio Grande Valley.

Officials are setting guidelines for wind turbines and other forms of alterative energy sources after homeowners and businesses expressed interest in installing them here, said John Rodriguez, the city’s code enforcement officer.

“We’ve had people come in and ask about it,” Rodriguez said “They’re commercial businesses looking to offset the cost of electricity.”

City Commissioner Bill Elliott asked staff to propose regulations for other alternative energy sources like solar panels.

“There are a number of companies moving into the Rio Grande Valley to promote wind energy, so we’re going to be seeing a lot more of this,” Elliott said of wind turbines.

The Valley’s gusty winds make it a “perfect location” for wind turbines, while its sunshine makes solar energy an effective alterative energy source, Elliott said.

A proposed ordinance would limit the height of wind turbines to 120 feet in commercial zones and 70 feet in residential areas where they would be restricted to back yards.

The law would require wind turbines to be set back 20 feet from property lines in commercial areas and 15 feet in neighborhoods where they would be restricted to lots of at least half an acre.

The city would require that turbines have low noise levels and be white, off-white or gray and artificially lighted.

Wind turbines are springing up across the Valley.

In Palm Valley, three wind turbines stand in front of a business on Stuart Place Road.
In Willacy County, Duke Energy and E.ON Climate & Renewables plan to build sprawling tracts
of turbines to generate energy.

Offshore, Baryonyx Corp. plans to build a wind farm southeast of South Padre Island.
Two wind farms have been built in Kenedy County.