Large-scale wind energy projects could be on their way to Rockingham County.

County leaders say two companies have expressed interest in building turbines much like the ones spinning at the top of Mount Storm in Grant County, West Virginia.

Rockingham County leaders have now put together draft regulations for these kinds of projects.

The rules deal with things like height and public input about the projects.

If approved, the ordinance changes don't necessarily mean construction can begin.

For large-scale projects, interested companies and other applicants would still have to get a special-use permit. That means individual scrutiny of each request by the county Board of Supervisors.

"We don't want to see, I'm sure the board [of supervisors] doesn't want to see, a project being approved by the state and the local government not having regulations or guidelines in place on the ground that they can also evaluate," says Billy Vaughn, director of community development for Rockingham County.

The Planning Commission is also looking at rules for small-scale projects, which would be turbines less than 80-feet tall.

Proposed ordinance changes would allow small turbines in certain agricultural areas by right.

There's a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. for members of the community to share their thoughts about the proposed ordinance changes.