Siting Authority and Regulations

In the United States, siting authority over wind energy facilities varies from state to state. Jurisdiction rests with a local branch of government, county commissions, planning and zoning board, other local government departments, or at the state level. In some cases, federal government has jurisdiction over siting. For towers greater than 200 feet in height, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lighting and safely regulations apply. The FAA must “determine that facilities do not obstruct or present a hazard to air navigation.” State guidelines for siting deal with noise, safety, construction related effects, and post-construction monitoring of threatened or endangered species. Groups such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management have also developed siting guidelines.