For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
ADMINISTRATOR: Minidoka County planning and zoning administrator.
APPLICANT: The person or entity submitting an application to the building and zoning departments for the construction and operation of a WTS.
BOARD: The board of county commissioners of Minidoka County, Idaho.
BUILDING OFFICIAL: The Minidoka County building official charged with the administration and enforcement of the adopted building code.
LANDOWNER: Legal owner of property to be used for the placement of the proposed WTS.
OPERATOR: The entity responsible for the day to day operation and maintenance of the WTS, including any third party subcontractors.
OWNER: The entity or entities with an equity interest in the WTS, including their respective successors and assigns. Owner does not mean: a) the property owner from whom land is leased for locating the WTS (unless the owner has an equity interest in the WTS); or b) any person holding a security interest in the WTS solely to secure an extension of credit, or a person foreclosing on such security interest; provided, that after foreclosure, such person seeks to sell the WTS at the earliest practicable date.
TOTAL HEIGHT: The vertical distance from ground level to the top of a wind generator blade when the tip is at its highest point.
TOWER: The vertical component, whether a monopole, freestanding, or guyed structure, that supports or elevates the wind turbine generator and attached blades above the ground.
WIND TURBINE SYSTEM (WTS): An aggregation of parts necessary to produce electricity by converting the kinetic energy of wind to electrical energy. Wind turbine systems consist of the entire turbine apparatus and any other buildings, support structures or other related improvements necessary for the generation of electric power. For the purpose of this chapter, wind turbine systems shall be categorized as follows:
A. Small Wind Turbine System: A WTS consisting of a single wind turbine, generator, a tower and associated controls or conversion electronics, which total height is less than sixty feet (60'), has a maximum rated five kilowatts (5 kW) nameplate capacity or less and designed to primarily supplement or reduce on site consumption of utility power. Small WTS are off grid systems and have no net metering capacity available.
B. Medium Wind Turbine System: A WTS consisting of one or more wind turbines, generators, towers and associated controls or conversion electronics, which total height is more than sixty feet (60'), but not greater than one hundred twenty five feet (125'), has a maximum rated nameplate capacity of more than five kilowatts (5 kW), but not greater than twenty five kilowatts (25 kW), and is designed to primarily supplement or reduce on site consumption of utility power. Medium WTS have net metering capacity.
C. Large (Commercial) Wind Turbine System: A WTS consisting of one wind turbine, generator(s), tower and associated controls or conversion electronics, which total height is more than one hundred twenty five feet (125'), has a maximum rated capacity of more than twenty five kilowatts (25 kW) nameplate capacity and designed to provide electrical energy to the power grid as well as provide energy to the facilities wherein the system is located.
D. Wind Farm: A large (commercial) WTS consisting of more than one wind turbine exceeding one hundred twenty five feet (125') or twenty five kilowatt (25 kW) nameplate capacity on the same or adjoining parcels and designed to provide electrical energy to the power grid as well as provide energy to the facilities wherein the system is located. (Ord. 2016-09-13-F, 9-13-2016)