Wind Turbine Ordinance Bismarck

[Account Deleted]

Trying to find an actual ordinance if one exists for wind turbines on a residence in Bismarck. Googling gets me the discussions had about it in 2009 but no actual ordinance.

Also, has anyone set up some alternative energy devices (solar or wind or...) for personal use? How do you like it?

 

[Duckslayer100]

Everything I've heard about wind turbines is they're notorious maintenance whores. Just ask the city of Moorhead. They have two towers, and one of them has been out of commission for darn near a year. Granted those are the big jobbies, so maybe smaller residential units aren't as bad.

 

[scrotcaster]

Theres a house east on Ol Hwy ten that has a wind turbine and solar panels.. dont know who he is or anything but would prople be the person to talk to ... just a thought

 

[guywhofishes]

Drill baby drill.

 

[Bacon]

I will guarantee you that it will not pay for itself. The maintenance plus the initial cost is a killer. They let you put the power into the main line but won't pay you for the overage. In other words, at most you get your electric bill to zero but the electric company doesn't pay past that. Kind of stupid but that's the way it is.

 

[eyexer]

as stated total maint. whores

 

[WormWiggler]

Is it still true that if you make electricity that the power company is required to buy back what ever you don't consume? I was told this years ago but don't recall if I thought is was legit... and google is broke due to rioting. jk

 

[deleted member]

ghost, who are you going through? installers? i think nodak will let you earn a credit and/or pay you at a reduced rate for sticking it back into the grid. you need to drop some coin to make it worth your money though. i was just looking at this the other day. 4-5000 W with variable pitch, battery bank, tower, charge controller and grid tie in... $10,000 plus install. i figure i could install it myself. lol. what could go wrong? anyway, that should almost totally eliminate my $300/month electric bill.

 

[Wild and Free]

I have a neighbor who has 3 private towers all different sizes and styles and he puts excess power back into the grid but it was a very long drawn out process to get the coop or power company to agree to it.
PM me for his name if interested, he is along old 10 about 20 miles west of Mandan.

 

[Nanky]

ghost, who are you going through? installers? i think nodak will let you earn a credit and/or pay you at a reduced rate for sticking it back into the grid. you need to drop some coin to make it worth your money though. i was just looking at this the other day. 4-5000 W with variable pitch, battery bank, tower, charge controller and grid tie in... $10,000 plus install. i figure i could install it myself. lol. what could go wrong? anyway, that should almost totally eliminate my $300/month electric bill.

$300+ per month!! Ouch . . . I think I'd start with insulation, quality windows, and making sure the giant hole in my roof is closed up property. Seriously though, that's a lot of money per month!

 

[Bfishn]

$300+ per month!! Ouch . . . I think I'd start with insulation, quality windows, and making sure the giant hole in my roof is close up property. Seriously though, that's a lot of money per month!

Marijuana grows aren't cheap!

 

[Account Deleted]

ghost, who are you going through? installers? i think nodak will let you earn a credit and/or pay you at a reduced rate for sticking it back into the grid. you need to drop some coin to make it worth your money though. i was just looking at this the other day. 4-5000 W with variable pitch, battery bank, tower, charge controller and grid tie in... $10,000 plus install. i figure i could install it myself. lol. what could go wrong? anyway, that should almost totally eliminate my $300/month electric bill.

I'd install myself. Kits available from Home Depot, Lowes, etc., friend who works for hunting trips who is an electrician that can tie into whatever I need him to. Thinking I could come up with 700 kwh/month for $8000-$10000. I'm not sure if it pencils out yet. Just wanted to see if there is a draconian law against it before I get to far.

 

[pluckem]

Are you in the city of Bismarck? If so, I assume your provider is MDU?

That could change things vs being part of a coop like Capital Electric as far as selling excess power to the grid.


Bismarck, North Dakota - Wind Energy Ordinance - Section 14-03-08-v
http://www.bismarcknd.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1962

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If you want to look into curbing your bill, you might look into the option of getting an off peak meter and battery bank to start out. Charge your battery bank at night during low rates and then avoid peak rates during the day.

However, I am almost positive the economics won't work out to much. Batteries are expensive and have short life's.

 

[Account Deleted]

This is a long-term plan for when me move to Bismarck.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Are you in the city of Bismarck? If so, I assume your provider is MDU?

That could change things vs being part of a coop like Capital Electric as far as selling excess power to the grid.


Bismarck, North Dakota - Wind Energy Ordinance - Section 14-03-08-v
http://www.bismarcknd.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1962

- - - Updated - - -

If you want to look into curbing your bill, you might look into the option of getting an off peak meter and battery bank to start out. Charge your battery bank at night during low rates and then avoid peak rates during the day.

However, I am almost positive the economics won't work out to much. Batteries are expensive and have short life's.

Wont work, I thought of that and contacted them about it. Seems like a great deal till they tell you they charge $100/month for the meter that records peak and off peak use. Its pretty much only worth doing if you are a business that uses A LOT of electricity...

 

[Bfishn]

I have never seen a residential wind turbine in Bismarck city limits. I'm pretty sure they are not legal, but who knows. Id say your options are solar, geo-thermal, off-peak. If your living in city limits i don't see how it would be possible to have a $300 electricity bill when you have Nat Gas as an option for pretty much everything.

 

[Wild and Free]

There is that farm on the east side of Centenial drive north of Bismarck KOA about a mile or so that has 2 wind turbines in his yard as well.

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If one lived along the river or a creek one can install a Pelton wheel generator.

 

[Account Deleted]

I have never seen a residential wind turbine in Bismarck city limits. I'm pretty sure they are not legal, but who knows. Id say your options are solar, geo-thermal, off-peak. If your living in city limits i don't see how it would be possible to have a $300 electricity bill when you have Nat Gas as an option for pretty much everything.

Reading through the ordinance, its not they are illegal, it is that by law they must be designed in such a way that they won't fit on a residential lot. They have it wrapped up in a tight little bow I guess. Land of the free indeed.

 

[pluckem]

Wont work, I thought of that and contacted them about it. Seems like a great deal till they tell you they charge $100/month for the meter that records peak and off peak use. Its pretty much only worth doing if you are a business that uses A LOT of electricity...

Who is your service provider?

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Reading through the ordinance, its not they are illegal, it is that by law they must be designed in such a way that they won't fit on a residential lot. They have it wrapped up in a tight little bow I guess. Land of the free indeed.

If it isn't covered by the city ordnances in most cases something like that will be covered in development covenants as well. If you haven't read through those before, make sure you do. They will limit the # and types of pets you can have. Limit the type of construction. Limit the building materials and sq. footage. Type of roofs, satellite dishes,flag poles, trees, landscape etc...

The fact is that residential lots are small and the value of the lot is dependent on what is neighboring that lot as well. These ordinances and covenants protect the buyers. Not many neighbors will be thrilled to see a wind turbine (or 3) go up next to their house.

And for the people who say if you don't like it then move, yes people can do that but now that the neighbors turbines are up your home value likely took a hit.

 

[johnr]

no one wants to look out their window and see some windmill device spinning in the neighbors yard.

Would be nice to get some free power. Free ice cold Busch light, might pretty up that windmill...haha.