Decision on Walmart wind turbines postponed

Sep 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Bob Vosseller Asbury Park Press, N.J.

A decision by the township's Board of Adjustment on whether 14 wind turbines can be installed on lamp posts at a Walmart parking lot was postponed until next month.

During the board's meeting Wednesday, it deemed the application complete but board members have further questions about the plan.

Board members heard details on the application prepared by Core States Group and submitted by the OmniWind Energy System, Dublin Pa.

The project concerns the installation of 14 wind turbines at Walmart located at 580 Route 9.

Wind systems are not a permitted use in the township, so a variance is needed to extend the lighting poles to 54 feet. Township code allows poles to be a maximum height of 35 feet.

The plan calls for the turbines to be 8 feet in diameter with 4-foot blades. It also includes a setback area from the nearest property boundary of about 81 feet.

Carl Douglas, the president and co-founder of OmniWind Energy Systems, spoke during the session, along with his firm's engineer.

Each turbine is expected to provide more than 4,000 kilowatt hours per year, according to Douglas. This would represent between 1 to 2 percent of Walmart's energy needs annually.

Douglas said the proposed project involves installing new poles and foundations at the existing sites of the lighting poles at Walmart.

In discussing the design of the blades, Douglas said they would not create any noise.

"You will not hear the blades." Douglas said.

He also said the system's technology includes an airfoil that makes up the propeller and that when the wind interacts with the airfoil, it responds by turning the propeller as well as a generator.

Douglas called the wind turbines avian friendly, low to the ground. He also assured board members that the wind turbines and poles would be stable structures.

"For those who are worried that it will fly apart, no it won't. It has a self-governing design," Douglas said.

The board postponed action on the issue until itsmeeting because residents did not have an opportunity to speak.

"I like the idea of wind energy but the location for these unsightly devices is inappropriate," resident Regina Discenza said after the meeting.

Bob Vosseller: 732-557-5623; rvosseller@ njpressmedia.com