(A) Equipment type.
(1) Turbines: All turbines shall be constructed of commercially available equipment.
(2) Meteorological towers: All meteorological towers may be guyed.
(3) Experimental, or proto-type equipment: Experimental or proto-type equipment still in testing which does not fully comply with industry standards may be approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals per the variance process established by this subchapter.
(B) Industry standards and other regulations. All WECS shall conform to applicable industry standards, as well as all local, state, and federal regulations. An applicant shall submit certificate(s) of design compliance that wind turbine manufacturers have obtained from Underwriters Laboratories, Det Norske Veritas, Germanishcher Lloyed Wind Energie, or an equivalent third party.
(C) Controls and brakes.
(1) Braking system: All WECS Towers shall be equipped with a redundant braking system. This includes both aerodynamic over speed controls (including variable pitch, tip, and other similar systems) and mechanical brakes. Stall regulation shall not be considered a sufficient braking system for over speed protection.
(2) Operation mode: All mechanical brakes shall be operated in a fail-safe mode.
(D) Electrical components.
(1) Standards: All electrical components of all WECS shall conform to applicable local, state, and national codes, and any relevant national standards. Cables or lines in fields shall be buried and trenched. Trenching depth shall be determined in the road use and drainage agreements.
(2) Collection cables: All electrical collection cables between each WECS tower shall be located underground wherever possible.
(3) Transmission lines: All transmission lines that are buried should be at a depth consistent with, or greater than, local utility and telecommunication underground lines standards, or as negotiated with the land owner, or the land owner’s designee, until the same reach the property line, or a substation adjacent to the property line.
(E) Color and finish. In addition to all applicable Federal Aviation Administration requirements, this division (E) shall also apply.
(1) Wind turbines and towers: All wind turbines and towers that are part of a WECS shall be white, gray, or another non-obtrusive color.
(2) Blades: All blades shall be white, gray, or another non-obtrusive color. Blades may be black in order to facilitate deicing.
(3) Finishes: Finishes shall be matte or non-reflective.
(4) Exceptions: Exception may be made for all meteorological towers, where concerns exist relative to aerial spray applicators.
(F) Warnings.
(1) The following notices shall be posted for all commercial WECS:
(a) A sign or signs shall be posted on the pad-mounted transformer and the substation(s) warning of high voltage;
(b) Private roads providing access to commercial WECS shall have posted an Emergency 911 address road sign; and
(c) A sign shall be posted on the WECS tower listing an emergency telephone number.
(2) For all guyed towers, one of the following warning mechanisms shall be used for each anchor point:
(a) Visible and reflective objects, such as flags, plastic sleeves, reflectors, or tape placed on the anchor points of guy wires and along the innermost guy wires up to eight feet above the ground; and
(b) Visible fencing not less than four feet in height installed around anchor points of guy wires.
(3) The following notices shall be clearly visible on all non-commercial WECS and micro WECS towers and accessory facilities:
(a) “No Trespassing” signs shall be attached to any perimeter fence;
(b) “Danger” signs shall be posted at the height of five feet on WECS towers and accessory structures;
(c) A sign shall be posted on the WECS tower showing an emergency telephone number; and
(d) The manual electrical and/or over speed shutdown disconnect switch(es) shall be clearly labeled.
(4) Consideration shall be given to paint aviation warnings as required by the Federal Aviation Administration on all meteorological towers.
(G) Climb prevention. All Commercial WECS tower designs shall include features to deter climbing or be protected by anti-climbing devices, such as:
(1) Fences with locking portals at least six feet in height;
(2) Anti-climbing devices 15 feet vertically from the base of the WECS tower; or
(3) Locked WECS tower doors.
(H) Blade clearance.
(1) The minimum distance between the ground and any protruding blades(s) utilized on all commercial WECS towers shall be 25 feet, as measured at the lowest point of the arc of the blades.
(2) The minimum distance between the ground and any protruding blade(s) utilized on all Non-commercial or micro WECS towers shall be a minimum of 15 feet, as measured at the lowest point of the arc of the blades, provided the rotor blade does not exceed 20 feet in diameter. In either instance, the minimum distance shall be increased as necessary to provide for vehicle clearance in locations where over-sized vehicles might travel.
(I) Lighting.
(1) Intensity and frequency: All lighting, including lighting intensity and frequency of strobe, shall adhere to, but not exceed, requirements established by Federal Aviation Administration permits and regulations.
(2) Shielding: Except with respect to lighting required by the Federal Aviation Administration, lighting may require shielding so that no glare extends substantially beyond any WECS tower.
(J) Materials handling, storage, and disposal.
(1) Solid wastes. All solid wastes, whether generated from supplies, equipment, parts, packaging, operation, or maintenance of the WECS, including old parts and equipment related to the construction, operation, and/or maintenance of the WECS, shall be removed from the site promptly and disposed of in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws.
(2) Hazardous materials. All hazardous materials or waste related to the construction, operation, and/or maintenance of any WECS shall be handled, stored, transported, and disposed of in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
(K) Anti-icing technology. A utility-grade wind turbine system shall utilize best industry accepted standards for protecting against shedding of significant pieces of ice capable of damaging nearby buildings, public roads, railroads, or above-ground utilities.
(L) Top soil preservation plan. There shall be an installation plan approved by the Zoning Administrator that adequately preserved and provides for the restoration of topsoil for all staging and construction activities.
(Prior Code § 153.089) (Ord. 2019-03, passed 5-7-2019)