Revised Wind Energy Conversion System Regulations

Existing Regulations

Section 12-306-44 Wind Energy Conversion Systems
Adopted in 2016
View Here

Proposed Revised Regulations

TA-22-00031 Wind Energy Conversion Systems
Text Amendment initiated by Planning Commission
View Draft Here

February 2024 Update:

The Board of County Commissioners will consider the revised Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) regulations during their business meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. The meeting will also be available online via Zoom & an in-person meeting location will be determined at a later date due to anticipated construction at the historic Courthouse. Commissioners will hear public comment, discuss the regulations, and consider action on the item.

Public Comment can be submitted online, here

The revised regulations were reviewed by the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission during two meetings: Oct. 23, 2023, and Jan. 22, 2024. On a 6-3 vote, the Planning Commission passed a recommendation of approval to the Board of County Commissioners for the revised Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) regulations with one key modification: the setback distances from non-participating property owners be set at 2,500 feet from the property line.

County Commissioners will have a work session at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, about the revised Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) regulations. The meeting will also be available by Zoom. During the work session, Commissioners will receive a staff report and feedback from the Planning Commission, and they will have the opportunity to ask questions. No action or public comment will be taken during the work session. Please visit the BoCC website to learn more and contact Commissioners.

General Information & Planning Background:

A Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) is a system of wind-driven generators that convert wind energy into electrical power. Individual machines are also referred to as a turbine, wind tower, windmill, or wind pump. A WECS may be for personal or commercial use, these two varying uses are referred to as P-WECS and C-WECS, respectively.

There are existing regulations which regulate the development of WECS in Section 12-306-44 of the Douglas County Zoning and Land Use Regulations. The Lawrence Douglas County Planning Commission and County Commission approved this text amendment 2016 through Resolution No. 17-12. View the existing regulations.

Prior to these regulations being adopted, the only zoning regulations governing this use (of commercial or personal wind turbines) would have been through assessing a WECS proposal as if it was a Wireless Communication Tower as a proxy. Since the adoption of Section 12-306-44 there have been no proposals for a C-WECS in the Unincorporated Territory of Douglas County.

The Lawrence Douglas County Planning Commission directed Planning staff to review the existing regulations for Wind Energy Conversion Systems (or WECS) in January of 2022. This came from an interest in better aligning the wind-regulations with that of the recently adopted solar-regulations. The Planning Commission voted to form an Ad Hoc Committee at their meeting on March 20, 2023 to create a Draft #2 which was published on September 26, 2023. On January 22, 2024 the Planning Commission passed a recommendation of approval to the Board of County Commissioners for Revised WECS Regulations.