Ottawa County nabs national awards for wind energy plan and smart growth project

An innovative zoning model for wind energy development and an area smart growth plan to revitalize an urban community have attracted national recognition for Ottawa County's planning commission.

According to excerpts from the story:

The Ottawa County Planning Commission is pleased to announce that Ottawa County has been honored with two 2009 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards for recent planning projects. NACo awards recognize America's most unique and innovative county programs.  

The first project recognized by NACo is the Ottawa County Wind Energy Model Ordinance. This ordinance is unique in that it is one of the first in the nation to provide specific, size-appropriate zoning standards for small, medium, and large wind energy turbines. This model ordinance proactively assists local units of government with the promotion and regulation of wind turbines by providing a framework local communities can draw from to set their own appropriate wind energy zoning standards.

Read the complete story here.


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