Work on Bath wind ordinance continuing

WARM SPRINGS — Work on an ordinance to govern commercial wind facilities in Bath County is still ongoing, planning director Sherry Ryder told the Bath County Planning Commission Monday,

The county has been working with James Madison University on a workbook for the Virginia Renewables Siting Scoring System, called the VRS3. The VRS3 would help rate various sites for wind energy potential, thus helping localities see where developers might seek to place commercial wind operations.

Ryder said some of the overlay maps associated with the VRS3 have been done, and between land with conservation easements, environmentally sensitive areas, national forest land, land controlled by The Nature Conservancy, karst topography areas and other factors, there are not that many potential sites for wind operations in Bath.

"There are very, very few places in Bath County to put a wind facility," Ryder said.

Planning commission chair Mike Grist said he was concerned about the time JMU is taking to complete the workbook. Bath has been waiting for the workbook to be complete before working to finalize a wind energy ordinance.

"Maybe we should look at adopting something simple to start with," Grist said. "It could be a year before JMU is done."

Ryder said the county would have ample notice if there was interest in a commercial wind operation, since companies would need to place a testing tower on any prospective sites and would need a conditional use permit to do so. Ryder said developers leave such towers in place for a year.

"Companies want to know the winds will support the amount of power they need," Ryder said. "If one were to come in today, we know we would have a year from today."

One thing emphasized to her by JMU, Ryder said, is the county needs to be sure to protect vistas and views when drafting an ordinance.

"We have heard little input from the public on this, but I think we would get a lot if someone wanted to put a test tower up," Grist said.

Ryder intends to attend a wind ordinance writing workshop Friday, April 24 at the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission in Staunton. The goal of the workshop is to provide local governments with resources to assist in the development of wind ordinances.

In addition, the VRS3 will be formally released at the workshop, Ryder said. JMU is hosting the workshop along with the CSPDC. Those attending will receive information including wind siting guidelines, sample ordinances and local wind resource maps.

Copies of the VRS3 will be provided to all participants.

At least two citizens, and The Recorder, have asked to attend, but the CSPDC says the meeting is closed to the public.