Alabama § 45-25-260.05 - Certification, Safety, and Setback Requirements.

§ 45-25-260.05. Certification, Safety, and Setback Requirements.

(a) The safety of the design of all conversion system towers shall be certified by a licensed engineer with prior experience with wind energy conversion systems. The standard for certification shall be good engineering practices, including the requirement that the systems comply with all building and electrical codes in this state.

(b) A wind energy conversion system shall be equipped with manual and automatic overspeed controls to limit rotation of blades to a speed below the designed limits of the conversion system. A licensed engineer shall certify that the rotor and overspeed control design and fabrication conforms with good engineering practices. Any changes or alterations from the certified design shall not be permitted unless accompanied by a licensed engineer’s statement of certification.

(c) All electrical compartments, storage facilities, wire conduit and interconnections with utility companies shall conform to federal, state, and local law.

Nothing in this part shall serve to alter, affect, limit, or avoid other state laws and regulations that would otherwise be applicable to the construction or operation of a wind energy conversion system, to sales therefrom, or the sale of a system, including, but not limited to, Title 37.

(d) A visible warning sign of “High Voltage” shall be placed at the base of all systems. The letters of the sign shall be a minimum of six inches in height.

(e) A tower or pole shall be unclimbable by design or protected by any of the following anti-climbing devices:

(1) Fences with locking portals at least six feet high.

(2) Anti-climbing devices 12 feet from the base of the pole.

(3) Anchor points for guy wires supporting a tower that are enclosed by a six-foot fence or located within the confines of a yard that is completely surrounded by a fence.

(f) The compatibility of the tower structure with the rotors and other components of the wind energy conversion system shall be certified by a licensed engineer.

(g) It shall be the responsibility of the property owner or the applicant to contact all federal, state, and local regulating agencies regarding additional permits necessary for the installation of wind energy conversion systems, to include, but not be limited to, the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Agency, and the Alabama Department of Transportation.

(h) A licensed engineer shall certify that the construction and installation of the wind energy conversion system meets or exceeds the manufacturer’s construction and installation standards.

(i) The noise levels measured at the property line of the property on which the system has been installed shall not exceed 40 decibels.

(j) A wind energy conversion system may not encroach upon adjacent properties as determined by a measure of 2,500 feet from the center-mass base of the system to the nearest edge of the adjacent property.

(k) In addition to the requirements of subsection (j), a wind energy conversion system shall also satisfy a minimum setback for the tower that is no closer laterally than one and one-half times the height of the tower to an overhead electrical power line, excluding secondary electrical service lines or service drops, and a minimum setback from underground electrical distribution lines at least one-half times the height of the tower. Any exception to the requirements of this subsection shall be obtained from the owner or operator of the electrical towers, lines, poles, or other facilities involved.