For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AMBIENT SOUND. The all-encompassing sound associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sound from many sources near and far, as defined by ANSI S12.9 Part 3.
APPLICANT. The person, firm, corporation, trust, association, company, limited liability corporation, or other entity that applies for township approval under this subchapter, as well as the applicant’s successor(s), assign(s) and/or transferee(s) to any approved WES. An APPLICANT must have the legal authority to represent and bind the landowner or lessee who will construct, own and operate the WES. The obligations regarding a zoning approval for any approved WES shall be with the landowner and the owner of the WES and jointly and severally with the owner and operator or lessee of the WES if different than the landowner.
INHABITED STRUCTURE. A building or group of buildings occupied on a temporary or permanent basis including, but not limited to, residential dwellings, hospitals, motels, hotels, bed and breakfast, homeless shelters, transitional housing and adult foster care facilities.
INTERCONNECTED WES. A WES that is electrically connected to the local electrical power utility system and can provide power to the local electrical power utility system.
NACELLE. In a wind turbine, the nacelle refers to the structure that houses all of the generating components, gearbox, drive train and other components.
NON-PARTICIPATING PARCEL. A parcel which is not under lease or other property agreement with the owner/operator of a WES.
ON-SITE USE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM. A WES the purpose of which is to provide energy to only the property where the structure is located, or to adjacent properties under the same ownership or control as the property where the structure is located, or by the mutual consent of the owners of adjacent properties.
PARTICIPATING PARCEL. A parcel which is under lease or other property agreement with the owner/operator of a WES.
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. Alternating changes in light intensity caused by the moving blade of a WES casting shadows on the ground and stationary objects such as dwellings.
SINGLE WES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. A single WES placed upon a parcel or parcels with the intent to sell or provide electricity to a site or location other than the premises upon which the WES is located. The WES may or may not be owned by the owner of the property upon which the WES is placed.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. Twenty times the logarithm to the base 10, of the ratio of the root-mean-square sound pressure to the reference pressure of twenty micropascels, expressed as decibels (dB). Note that, unless expressed with reference to a specific weighing network (such as dBA), the unit dB shall refer to an un-weighted measurement.
STRUCTURE-MOUNTED WES. A WES mounted or attached to an existing structure or building.
UTILITY GRID WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS. A WES designed and constructed to provide electricity to the electric utility grid.
WES HEIGHT. The distance from the ground at normal grade to the highest point of the tip of a rotor blade when the blade is in full vertical position.
WES SETBACK. The distance from the edge of the base of the tower or structure upon which the WES is mounted to the nearest lot line. In the case of multiple parcels utilized for multiple or single WES, the SETBACKS shall be taken from the outside boundary of the parcels utilized for the WES project.
WIND ENERGY SYSTEM (WES).
(1) Any combination of the following:
(a) A mill or machine operated by wind acting on oblique vanes or sails that radiate from a horizontal shaft;
(b) A surface area such as a blade, rotor or similar device, either variable or fixed, for utilizing the wind for electrical or mechanical power;
(c) A shaft, gearing, belt or coupling utilized to convert the rotation of the surface area into a form suitable for driving a generator, alternator or other electricity-producing device;
(d) The generator, alternator or other device to convert the mechanical energy of the surface area into electrical energy; and
(e) The tower, pylon or other structure upon which any, all or some combination of the above are mounted.
(2) Notwithstanding the above, a windmill traditionally used only to pump water shall not be considered a WIND ENERGY SYSTEM.
WIND FARM. Clusters or arrangements of two or more WES placed upon a lot or parcel (or upon two or more lots or parcels where used together) with the intent to sell or provide electricity to a site or location other than the premises upon which the WES are located. The WES may or may not be owned by the owner of the property upon which the WES is placed.
(Ord. passed 7-12-2012, § 4.15; Ord. 19-3, passed 7-11-2019; Ord. 19-5, passed 8-8-2019; Ord. 2020-01, passed - -2020)