Welcome to the NJ Wind Working Group Kickoff Meeting at Rowan University Friday 6 October 2006
NJ Anemometer Loan Program South/Central Region Dr. Peter Mark Jansson, PP PE Ryan McDevitt
Outline Anemometer loan program overview Program Goals Masts Characteristics Current sites Municipality Zoning
NJ ANEMOMETER LOAN PROGRAM Originally Funded by USDOE Currently Funded by NJCEP/NJBPU Facilitate assessment of wind resources for residential, farm and commercial applications
NJ ANEMOMETER LOAN PROGRAM GOALS Increase awareness and understandability of renewable energy potential Purchase, test, & install 30-meter mast outfitted with anemometers throughout southern NJ Free wind analysis for 1 year to estimate wind turbine paybacks for customers
NRG TILT-UP MASTS CHARACTERISTICS Steel tube with flared sections Guy lines maintain stability No land disturbance Commercial product
Current Sites Being Assessed in South/Central NJ Port Norris Lower Alloway Creek Upper Deerfield Cedarville Chesterfield Estell Manor Atlantic, Cumberland, and Salem Counties
View From Bottom of Mast in Cedarville Raising Mast at Chesterfield
Mast Constructed at Lower Alloway’s Creek Township
Data Loggers used with NRG Masts Anemometer Set Up on Existing Tower in Port Norris
Municipality Zoning Obstruction Obtaining Permits from Municipalities is a Major Obstacle in the Wind Energy Industry New Jersey Wind MapZoning Regulations Obtained by Municipality
Zoning Regulations Amended Commercial Township As of 2006 – 35 ft. Height Ordinance – Land Use Board Obtain Use Variance Starting 2007 – Windmills will be permitted in specific districts – “Will not block, interfere or otherwise substantially impair scenic vista” – “Shall not be for the generation of power for commercial purposes” Although you can sell energy to the power grid – “No windmill shall exceed a height greater than 200 feet” – “Shall be designed to reduce or avoid any nuisances to surrounding properties and to limit any noise” – “Windmills shall require site plan review” Buffer zones determined by the Land Use Board