For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BLADE GLINT. The intermittent reflection of the sun off the surface of the blades of a wind turbine.
COUNTY. The County of Saginaw.
FAA. The Federal Aviation Administration.
HUB HEIGHT. When referring to a wind turbine, the distance measured from the ground level to the center of the turbine hub.
INHABITED STRUCTURE. A permanent building existing prior to the installation of a wind energy conversion facility, which is used for human or animal habitation.
KILOWATT. A unit of electricity equal to 1,000 watts.
MET (ANEMOMETER) TOWER. A tower, including any anchor, base, base plate, boom, cable, electrical or electronic equipment, guy wire, hardware, indicator, instrument, telemetry device, vane or wiring, that is used to collect or transmit meteorological data, including wind speed and wind flow information, in order to monitor or characterize wind resources for a wind site assessment for possible installation of wind energy conversion facilities or on-site wind energy systems.
MICHIGAN TALL STRUCTURE ACT (Pub. Act 259 of 1959, being M.C.L.A. §§ 259.481 to 259.493). Governs the height of structures in proximity to airport related uses and is included as a standard of this chapter by reference.
NET ENERGY CONSUMPTION. The amount of energy delivered by the utility and used by the customer, minus the amount of energy generated by the customer and delivered to the utility.
NET METERING. An accounting mechanism in which electric utility customers who generate a portion or all of their own electricity needs are billed by their utility for only their net energy consumption during each billing period. NET METERING is allowed for turbines producing less than 30 kilowatts.
NON-PARTICIPATING PROPERTY. Real property that has no wind energy system.
ON-SITE SMALL WIND ENERGY SYSTEM. A small electricity-generating system consisting of one, but not more than two, wind turbine systems sized primarily to serve the needs of the on-site consumer for a home, farm or small business, on whose property they are constructed and not intended to distribute electricity to a customer or customers, but may be inter-connected to a public utility.
OWNER. The person/entity that owns a wind energy system or met tower.
ROTOR. An element of a wind energy system that acts as a multi-bladed airfoil assembly, thereby extracting through rotation, kinetic energy directly from the wind.
SHADOW FLICKER. A repeating cycle of changing light intensity when shadows caused by rotating blades of a wind turbine pass over an object or across a window.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. The level of sound produced by the rotating blades of a wind energy system; the spinning generator; and the moving gears as measured in dBA from a property line, specific location or distance.
STRAY VOLTAGE. Any voltage or current existing between two points, where none is expected which may be contacted by persons, animals and/or equipment.
TOTAL HEIGHT. Includes the height of the tower including the rotor radius measured at the top of its blade in the vertical position.
TOWNSHIP. The Township of Kochville.
WIND ENERGY FACILITY SITE PERMIT. A permit issued upon compliance with the standards of this subchapter.
WIND ENERGY FACILITY SITE PLAN REVIEW. The process used to review a proposed wind energy facility.
WIND TURBINE. A wind energy conversion system which converts wind energy into electricity through the use of a wind turbine generator, and includes the turbine, blade, tower and base and pad transformer, if any. A WIND TURBINE, by definition, shall include a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) and/or a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT).
(Ord. 11-001, passed 1-18-2011)