Sep. 10--When William and Janeen Scharf sought permission to install a Southwest Windpower turbine at their Doney Park home this summer, a Coconino County board turned them down. The Board of Adjustment denied it.

The proposed 41.6-foot wind tower was 3.1 feet too tall to be allowed in a residential area, even though it was shorter than nearby utility poles. So the Scharfs researched options online, looked at other counties' policies and started lobbying the county. "We're trying to do our part to save Mother Earth," William Scharf told the supervisors last week. Now the majority of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors have said they support backyard wind power for this region. And three out of the five supervisors say they will change the rules in order to allow it. "Our restrictions right now are sort of working against our long-term goals in terms of sustainability, renewable energy," said Carl Taylor, chairman of the board.

Another two -- Matt Ryan and Louise Yellowman -- said they were less certain of what to do with the issue. A larger wind park proposed near Meteor Crater -- which would generate enough energy to power the equivalent of two-thirds of the homes in Flagstaff -- has not been built after project managers have had trouble securing a power buyer. Meanwhile, the county's master plan calls for renewable energy use, even while county policies ban a turbine that Southwest Windpower has designed especially for home use. This had been the fourth such proposal to be denied in the last few years. "I'm very supportive," of backyard wind power, Supervisor Deb Hill said.

"... Be responsible for your own energy usage. I like that model." Hill, Taylor and Supervisor Liz Archuleta said they support allowing backyard wind turbines, with Taylor proposing the county become a net exporter of renewable energy. Northern Arizona University has installed two large wind turbines on the southern part of campus. "Our county comprehensive plan supports alternative energy and I expect staff to develop an ordinance to encourage wind turbines while protecting viewsheds," Archuleta wrote in an e-mail. "I strongly believe we can develop an ordinance that is win-win." The city of Flagstaff is also considering allowing residential wind power.

The viewshed -- or the neighbors' view of special sights like the San Francisco Peaks -- was the biggest point of contention when the supervisors narrowly approved the larger win farm near Meteor Crater in April, 2005. Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson has said the city's beauty would be marred if every home installed a wind turbine. The Scharfs, who live just off Highway 89, north of Townsend-Winona Road, surveyed 11 of their neighbors about installing a wind tower. The majority consented to the wind turbine. A few did not respond. One opposed the idea, fearing the turbines would pop up everywhere, the Scharfs said.

"The biggest stumbling block is going to be the viewshed issue," Janeen Scharf said. The view from the Scharf residence already includes power poles near the highway and radio towers up on Mount Elden. The Scharfs moved to Doney Park from the San Diego area to retire. Janeen works in accounting part time for Northern Arizona University. She previously managed budgeting and spending for a county government. William recently finished his bachelor's degree in Applied Indigenous Studies, where he investigated ways to help bring renewable energy to local tribes. He had previously managed operations for an electrical equipment firm and been employed at the Defense Department.

An American flag and another flag honoring prisoners of war fly in the couple's yard. Janeen crunched numbers some years ago and figured out the couple could probably afford to retire, but not near San Diego. So they began looking around. While driving through Flagstaff they passed some property in Doney Park. A "for sale" sign was being posted at that moment, so they called to buy it. They built a house with solar tubes that allow in skylight, extra insulation and a pellet stove that burns wood pellets and corn kernels. Now they're looking to reduce their reliance on propane, switch to electricity, build more water storage and save on long-term expenses.

Propane rates have increased about 75 percent since they moved in during 2003. They figure a $13,900 wind tower will generate enough electricity to offset the installation and purchase expenses in three to five years. Further, they've offered their data as a case study to the county, to aid in making future decisions. The average turbine prevents the emission of around 15,984 pounds of carbon dioxide per year per household, according to statistics from the American Wind Energy Association and the Energy Information Administration. "If everyone did their part, the air would be cleaner and we would have less reliance on fossil fuels," William said, "because fossil fuels are dead."