Windmills get a green light from county

Wind power may soon come to a home near you.

The County Council last night voted unanimously to authorize homeowners to construct energy-generating windmills up to 125 feet tall, though most would be shorter.

"It's the first avenue into alternative energy," said Council Vice Chairman Ron Dillon, a Pasadena Republican who pushed the proposal through the council. "We have to do something different to reduce our dependence on oil."

Installing the turbines on property smaller than three acres would require a public hearing and approval from county officials.

The passage of the bill was a victory for environmentalists who praised the zoning change as a step toward converting to green energy.

But neighbors of the Pasadena man who sought the change have lodged complaints that allowing towering windmills in the suburbs would drive down property values and cause noise.

"We continue to think that this should be submitted through a more comprehensive zoning process, but ... we'd like to see more of these issues addressed," said Lori Blair Klasmeier, a Pasadena resident who, along with her neighbors, has objected to the windmills.

The bill's unanimous passage was not assured, as several council members waffled on whether the windmills or rooftop turbines would be out of place.

Councilman Charles W. Ferrar, D-Edgewater, admitted he "thought they were ugly, and I wouldn't want one near me," before he declared the same feelings for utility poles and voted to allow the windmills.

"I don't think these things are cost effective, they're certainly not beautiful, but they certainly go a long way when we're talking about reducing our energy dependence," Ferrar said.