For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGGREGATED PROJECT. Those which are developed and operated in a coordinated fashion, but which have multiple entities separately owning one or more of the individual WECS within the larger project. Associated infrastructure, such as power lines and transformers, that service the facility may be owned by a separate entity, but are also included as part of the AGGREGATED PROJECT.
COMMERCIAL WECS. A WECS of equal to or greater than 35 kW in total name plate generating capacity.
FALL ZONE. The area, defined as the furthest distance from the tower base, in which a guyed tower will collapse in the event of a structural failure. This area is less than the total height of the structure.
FEEDER LINE. Any power line that carries electrical power from one or more wind turbines or individual transformers associated with individual wind turbines to the point of interconnection with the electric power grid, in the case of interconnection with the high voltage transmission systems, the point of interconnection shall be the substation serving the WECS.
METEOROLOGICAL TOWER. Those towers which are erected primarily to measure wind speed and directions, plus other data relevant to siting WECS. METEOROLOGICAL TOWERS do not include towers and equipment used by airports, the state’s Department of Transportation or other similar applications to monitor weather conditions.
NON-COMMERCIAL WECS. A WECS of less than 35 kW in total name plate generating capacity.
PROPERTY LINE. The boundary line of the area over which the entity applying for a WECS permit has legal control for the purposes of installation of a WECS. This control may be attained through fee title ownership, easement or other appropriate contractual relationship between the project developer and landowner.
PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS. Land owned in fee title by state or federal agencies and managed specifically for conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, state wildlife management areas, state parks, state scientific and natural areas, federal wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas. For the purposes of this subchapter, PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS will also include lands owned in fee title by non-profit conservation organizations. PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS do not include private lands upon which conservation easements have been sold to public agencies or non-profit conservation organizations.
ROTOR DIAMETER. The diameter of the circle described by the moving rotor blades.
SUBSTATIONS. Any electrical facility designed to convert electricity produced by wind turbines to a voltage greater than 35,000 volts (35 kV) for interconnection with high voltage transmission lines shall be located outside of the road right-of-way.
TOTAL HEIGHT. The highest point, above ground level, reached by a rotor tip or any other part of the WECS.
TOWER. Towers include vertical structures that support the electrical generator, rotor blades or meteorological equipment.
TOWER HEIGHT. The total height of the WECS exclusive of the rotor blades.
TRANSMISSION LINE. Those electrical power lines that carry voltages of at least 40,000 volts (40 kV) and are primarily used to carry electric energy over medium to long distances rather than directly interconnecting and supplying electric energy to retail customers.
WECS or WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM. An electrical generating facility comprised of one or more wind turbines and accessory facilities, including, but not limited to: power lines, transformers, substations and meteorological towers, that operate by converting the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. The energy may be used on-site or distributed into the electrical grid.
WIND TURBINE. A wind turbine is any piece of electrical generating equipment that converts the kinetic energy of blowing wind into electrical energy through the use of airfoils or similar devices to capture the wind.
(2002 Code, § 7.43) (Ord. 83, Sixth Series, effective 3-30-2008; Ord. 85, Sixth Series, effective 7-30-2008; Ord. 32, Seventh Series, effective 8-8-2015)