No one is going to say
Sault Ste. Marie doesn't try to stay on the forefront of technology and sustainable energy choices for the residents that live there.
At a recent city commission meeting, a new ordinance was passed that will allow the placement of residential and small commercial wind turbines in several areas of the city.
"The ordinance balances the desire of property owners to use wind-generated power with the need not to create nuisances for neighboring property owners," says city manager Spencer Nebel.
The ordinance does have a restriction on allowing the turbines on lot sizes smaller than two acres, but does provide opportunities for property owners with smaller lots to gain permission from their neighbors to place windmills on their property.
"The ordinance provides an opportunity for property owners in Sault Ste. Marie to use wind power to supplement their energy needs," says Nebel.
The ordinance allows residents to further reduce their need for use of fossil fuels, thanks to the use of hydro plants on the St. Marys River by Cloverland Electric to generate a significant part of the city's electrical needs.
Nebel notes that as technology for wind generation evolves, it will be important for local ordinances across the state and country to address the possibilities and problems related to the use of wind energy.
"We expect that we will eb revisiting our own ordinance in a few years as the technology continues to improve," he says.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Spencer Nebel, Sault Ste. Marie City Manager
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