I want to install a windmill for electricity. My city code will not allow. How do I change it?

Question

I am tired of paying the electric company every month. I live in Arlington, TX and want to install a windmill for electricity. The city said no. I also have an electric car that would be powered by this windmill. How can I help change the local code/law?

This would help me save about $1100 a month when we purchase another electric car. Not only do I get a financial benefit, I will be more independant. I think the city is limiting my freedoms. How can I bring about change without costing me an arm and a leg?

Answer 1

Inside the city limits, you have to follow the city ordinances.  They are monopolizing the power business, but you are powerless to stop them.  You could petition city council, perhaps, but you will probably lose.  You'd have to live in a more remote area or a city with looser ordinances.

Answer 2

Look carefully at the code and wording, a windmill is very much different than a wind generator.

See if they define windmill?

If it ties it's definition to the propellers or vanes then look at a wind generator by PACWIND, they have no propellers or vanes.

Lawyers love this kind of stuff.

I had a fence that the city said was illegal, so I looked the definition of a fence and put a 2X6 along the center, now, it was a bench and the city could only shake their heads and agree!

Answer 3

Try building a "Darrieus Rotor"; they work well in poor wind conditions, but may need a "kick start" after zero/very low wind.

Alternatively, try a "Savonius Rotor".  However, this will need good gearing to generate electricity.

They don't need to be as obvious as tradition windmills ...

Answer 4

How do you know it will save you $1100 a month?  Have you figured out how much a windmill can generate, given your average windspeeds?  Sounds very speculative to me- if you have a month wil very little wind, you could save $0.  Anyway, I digress.  Have you applied for a zoning variance?  That is one way to try to achieve your goal.  The other is to just move out of the city to where there is no restriction, and do what you want.  You can always sue, but its highly, highly likely the city would win.  Windmills can certainly be regarded as eyesores by your neighbors, who have the right of quiet enjoyment of their property, which includes unobstructed views, regardless of the benefit a windmill might bring.  Good luck to you.

Answer 5

Don't bother trying to change the Arlington city code.  Arlington appears to be in a region of wind class 2, which is well below the wind class 5 or higher that would make a windmill financially viable.  Since you would need to move to a region of adequate wind class to implement wind power reasonably, such a move would take you very far from the Arlington city limits, which would avoid your issues with the city code.