Roanoke County officials have revised a proposed zoning ordinance on wind energy generation.

The county planning commission made the revisions Tuesday to require large and utility-scale wind turbines to be at least a half-mile from the nearest occupied homes.

The Roanoke Times reports the ordinance would require wind turbines' proximities to the nearest property lines to be at least 110 percent of their height. The turbines' noise could be no more than 60 decibels at the property line.

Developers would be required to obtain special-use permits for each project.

The proposal now goes before the county board of supervisors.

Chicago-based Invenergy has proposed building up to 18 wind turbines that could generate enough electricity to power about 8,000 homes.

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