Baltimore woman seeks to be first with wind turbine
A woman in Federal Hill wants to harness the power of the harbor to help pay her electric bill. She wants to be the first in the city to put a wind turbine on her roof.
Marsha Vitow and her contractor believe there is enough wind blowing across the water to power the vertical axis wind turbine, a 6-foot by 6-foot machine that has blades that run straight up and spin like a merry-go-round. There's no baseline, but they think maybe she can cut her bill by 20 percent to 40 percent.
Vitow pick wind energy because she wanted to tread a little more lightly on the planet -- and she lives in Baltimore, where Mayor Dixon has set a "cleaner, greener" agenda. Solar panels wouldn't add much power, the contractor, Green Solution of Maryland, told her.
She's run into opposition from her two immediate neighbors who fear that the turbine will be unsigltly and unsafe and will harm property values. Another 100 people in the neighborhood have signed a petition in her support.
The city's zoning board will make the final call. They hear the case today, when Vitow seeks a variance to build above the 35-foot residential height restriction. Zoning officials say there's nothing in the law, which dates to the 1970s, about turbines and they aren't sure what will happen. In the meantime, the city is working to rewrite zoning law to account for all kinds of things people do now.
If the wind turbine gets the okay, maybe others will follow?
Photo courtesy of Green Solutions of Maryland
Comments
I really hope Ms. Vitow is successful with her endeavour.
Posted by: NotableM | August 4, 2009 8:02 AM
Hope this goes well but I'm finding that 'going green' doesn't always go w/the neighbors. We resurrected our backyard clothesline this spring and we're surprised by the response. The line is in the backyard, we don't leave clothes longer than it takes to dry and do not hang wash if someone is entertaining. After a period of the guilts my current stand is now 'Tough!' A few summers ago we abandoned the 'chemical lawn' treatments that are so popular where we live and started letting the grass grow a little. Again, not well received. Finding more and more going green is dictated not by your intentions but where you live.
Posted by: ruth | August 4, 2009 9:01 AM
Postscript: we hang towels, bedclothes, bedspreads, jeans, etc (anything that takes long dryer time) on the line outside. Underwear, etc is hung on an inside dryer rack not the outdoor line.
Posted by: ruth | August 4, 2009 9:47 AM
Did the contractor specify why solar panels wouldn't add much power? The full article on this topic stated that more people would more than likely opt for solar panels instead of a turbine - is this just a popularity issue or... ?
In her case, there isn't enough roof space to collect the sun, the contractor said. -MC
Posted by: Evan | August 4, 2009 11:27 AM
The clothes line debate boggles my mind. It is the most natural thing in the world to let clothing dry outdoors in the fresh air and sun. I am so relieved that we do not have to abide by any ridiculous community association aesthetic rules. Converting grass into ground cover is also a terrific endeavor.
Posted by: NotableM | August 4, 2009 7:34 PM
Ms. Vitow please know I am right behind you. I live on a high property in Greektown (highlandtown!) and would love to take advantanage of the constant wind. I would be happy to join your fight. Best wishes
Margaret lethbridge-cejku
rappolla st
Posted by: Peggy | August 5, 2009 1:40 AM
I see this as a small victory for Mrs. Vitow and by no means a defeat. The door is now ajar and support is puring through, more so then she ever imagined. I bet, that if pursued again and the people of Baltimore showed their support of this effort to save on their BGE bill in this fashion and hopefully produce a greener, safer environment for all, then she would gladly thrust herself in the spotlight once again. For this is a green deed not just for her home in Federal Hill, but for all Baltimore City dwellers. She will need help though, for as you see -- this is no easy undertaking.
I truly believe that this is a cause worth fighting for, for her, for you and for Baltimore and for others seeking to do the exact same thing.
Posted by: Lucie | August 6, 2009 2:10 AM
Anyone know the out come of this?
TW: The city denied her the zoning exception she needed to put the turbine on top of her house. Baltimore's new draft zoning code does allow for residential solar and wind energy systems, but limits a rooftop turbine to 10 feet high, including the blades. Ground-mounted ones can be 65 feet high, or 20 feet above the trees. For more, see here: http://www.transformbaltimore.net/portal/zoning-apr-draft?pointId=d69044e47467
Posted by: Chris | January 4, 2011 9:55 AM