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The county's first residential power-generating wind turbines will soon be built in the upcounty, reflecting a growing interest in conservation and keeping energy costs down. One will be built just outside Barnesville, the other just outside Poolesville.
Montgomery County's permitting department has received two applications for residential wind turbines and approved both last month, according to Building Construction Division Chief Hadi Mansouri. One turbine will be at 18506 Barnesville Road and the other at 18340 Cattail Road.
"We're certainly looking to conserve, and with the tax incentives the time seemed right," said Garland Johnson of Barnesville Road. "Our electric bills have gone up steadily."
The property owner of the Cattail Road home, Pamela Vince, declined to comment.
Interest in wind energy has increased since February when a provision in the federal stimulus package eliminated a cap on tax credits for the purchase and installation of small turbines, which can cost up to $22,000, according to Carlos Fernandez Sr., owner of Frederick County-based Potomac Wind Energy.
Wind turbines work best on large properties at high altitudes where winds are not blocked by buildings or trees, making the generators impractical and ineffective in most of the county, according to Eric Coffman, an energy specialist for the county Department of Environmental Protection. But the structures are beginning to sprout up in the rural upcounty where the agricultural landscape was once dotted with windmills.
"You don't see them all over the place because it's not right for everywhere," said Fernandez, who has three turbines at his home. "Location is really crucial."
In Poolesville, planning officials are developing a policy for permitting the structures in response to a request by John Speelman to install a turbine behind his Poolesville Hardware store. The Maryland Energy Administration developed a model small wind ordinance last year to provide guidance to governments. Carroll and Frederick counties have since approved zoning for wind turbines.
In Montgomery County, wind turbines are permitted as accessory structures, according to Mansouri. Most of the county is better suited for solar energy, but improving energy efficiency is the best way to reduce home energy costs, Coffman said. Residents can purchase power from alternative sources through the county's Clean Energy Rewards program, he said.
"Because not everybody can put a wind turbine in their yard, it enables everybody to make that preferential choice that I want my energy to come from clean sources," Coffman said, adding that the program has grown to more than 3,500 subscribers.
Renewable energy incentives
Montgomery County offers property tax credits up to $250 to residents who install energy conservation devices; homeowners and businesses with certain renewable energy devices can apply for 50 percent of installation costs. Visit www.montgomery
countymd.gov/dep.
The Maryland Energy Administration loans anemometers to help residents measure wind on their properties. MEA's Windswept Grant Program provides grants up to $10,000 for small scale wind energy projects. Visit energy.maryland.gov.
Federal tax credits are available for 30 percent of the cost of small wind energy systems and other renewable energy projects. Visit www.energystar.gov.
