The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) Ambient Sound Level: The amount of background noise at a given location prior to the installation of a wind energy system which may include, but not be limited to, traffic, machinery, lawnmowers, human activity, and the interaction of wind with the landscape. The ambient sound level is measured on the dB(A) weighted scale as defined by the American National Standards Institute.
(b) Applicant: The person, firm, corporation, company, limited liability corporation or other entity which applies for City approval pursuant to this chapter for permission to construct a wind energy system, as well as the applicant's successors, assigns, and/or transferees.
(c) Building Mounted Wind Energy System: A wind energy system mounted or attached to a building.
(d) Interconnected Wind Energy System: A wind energy system which is electrically connected to the local electrical power utility system and can provide power to the local electrical power utility system.
(e) Nacelle: The structure which houses all of the generating components, gearbox, drive train and other components.
(f) Rotor Diameter: The cross-sectional dimension of the circle swept by the rotating blades of a wind energy system.
(g) Shadow Flicker: The moving shadow created by the sun shining through the rotating blades of a wind energy system. The amount of shadow flicker created by a wind energy system is calculated by a computer model that takes into consideration turbine locations, elevation, tree cover, location of all structures, wind activity and sunlight.
(h) Total Wind Energy System Height: The vertical distance measured from the ground at the base of a tower or pole mounted wind energy system mounting system tower to the uppermost vertical extension of any blade or to the maximum height reached by any part of the wind energy system. This definition shall not apply to a building mounted wind energy system.
(i) Tower Mount Wind Energy System: A wind energy system mounted or attached to a tower, pole or similar structure which is not a building.
(j) Wind Energy System Setback: The distance from the base of the structure, tower, pole or building upon which the wind energy system is mounted to a public right-of-way, overhead public utility line or lot line. In the case of multiple parcels utilized a single or multiple wind energy system(s), the setbacks shall be taken from the outside boundary of the parcels utilized for the wind energy system project.
(k) Wind Energy System: Equipment that converts and then stores or transfers energy from the wind into usable forms of energy and includes any base, blade, foundation, generator, nacelle, rotor, tower, transformer, turbine, vane, wire or other component used in the system.
(Ord. 475. Passed 5-4-10.)
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