Front Generator Wind Turbine

Students from the high school’s Advanced Placement environmental science class asked the board to approve the wind turbine “to promote 21st-century skills” and “expose students to alternative energy and technology.”

Clover Hill has a math and science specialty center, which would be among the areas of the school that could use data collected from the turbine in class projects.

“One thing we’d really like to emphasize about this project is the benefits it can provide to the students at Clover Hill High School,” student Zachary Perkins told the board. “It provides us hands-on experiences that help us grasp the curricula better.”

The school plans to erect the 61-foot-tall, three-blade wind turbine for an area near the school’s baseball field and concession stand. The energy generated by the turbine will be fed into the Dominion power grid through a hookup at the concession stand.

The planning board put off a vote last month because of questions about safety.

Shortly before Tuesday’s meeting began, the board was given a letter from the county’s department of risk management offering support for the project if it includes three safety measures.

It recommended a 70-foot setback to provide “an adequate fall and topple zone.” The school’s leaders already agreed to allow the planning director to approve the exact location of the turbine and to make it at least 70 feet away from all buildings, sports fields, sidewalks and parking lots.

Risk management also recommended adopting a maintenance routine and safety measures to prevent anyone from climbing the structure.

Clover Hill Principal Deborah E. Marks told the commission the school has a maintenance plan in place.

As for keeping anyone from climbing the turbine, commission member Dale Patton, representing the Bermuda District, held up a picture of the tall, round structure and said it would be quite difficult for people to shimmy up the pole unless they were truly motivated.

Still, commission member Russell J. Gulley, Clover Hill District, wondered if enough would be done to keep people out of the area. He mentioned an incident at the high school where someone tried to break into a concession stand.

Marks said that event had nothing to do with the lax security at the school, but was a result of a new county policy that requires tracks at high schools be open to the public.

The school will try to raise money from local businesses and other supporters to cover any cost for installing the wind turbine that exceed the $7,500 grant.

Next, a geologist must examine the area where the hole will be dug to determine how deep it should be. School leaders had held off spending money for that type of research before being certain they had county approval.

“It’s always a pleasure to see students get involved, especially in these types of projects,” Gulley said. “I appreciate the patience of Dr. Marks and her staff so that we could work through some of these safety considerations.”

Clover Hill was one of 88 schools in eight states to receive grants from Dominion for this school year.

The project will become the second wind turbine installed in the county. The first is at a home on Winterpock road.