(A) Solar. Solar energy systems can be separated into two basic types:
(1) Photovoltaic (PV) systems; and
(2) Solar domestic hot water systems.
(3) Photovoltaic systems (PV system) use solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. A system is made up of one or more photovoltaic (PV) panels, a DC/AC power converter (also known as an inverter), a racking system that holds the solar panels, electrical interconnections and mounting for other components. Only PV systems that meet or exceed the following requirements are allowed.
(a) All PV systems shall be in compliance with Article 690 of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Article 690 in the NEC spells out requirements for designing and installing safe, reliable, code-compliant PV systems.
(b) All PV systems shall be in compliance with the current adopted Town Codes.
1. No battery PV systems.
2. Only roof-mounted PV systems.
3. No PV system and/or solar collectors shall cause undue hardships on the rights of adjacent property owners. Solar domestic hot water systems generate hot water homes. Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors.
(4) Only systems that meet or exceed the following requirements are allowed:
(a) Indirect (closed loop). A heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from a collector fluid to water you drink. Potable water never mixes with the heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange fluid varies, depending on the type of system, from plain water to propylene glycol; and
(b) Active. Pumps are used to move fluids around in the system.
(5) Types of permitted solar collectors used for residential applications are evacuated-tube solar collectors. They feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin’s coating absorbs solar energy but inhibits heat loss.
(6) All solar domestic hot water systems shall be in compliance with all current adopted Town Codes.
(7) All solar domestic hot water systems shall be in compliance with the 2006 edition of the ICC.
(8) All PV systems that are a part of a solar domestic hot water system shall be in compliance with Article 690 of the National Electrical Code (NEC).
(9) All solar water heating system and/or/collectors shall be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation. (http://www.solar-rating.org)
(10) All solar domestic hot water systems shall have an installation certificate form filled out by the installer.
(11) Only house-mounted solar domestic hot water systems are allowed.
(12) No solar domestic hot water system and/or solar collectors shall cause undue hardships on the rights of adjacent property owners.
(B) Wind. Small wind energy systems, i.e., wind turbines (tower mount or roof-top) are not allowed in the town. The National Renewable Laboratory Energy (NREL) residential-scale wind resource maps show the area the town to be unsuited to support small wind energy systems.
(C) Sewer. Septic systems are allowed by the county and as such are governed by county regulations and require a permit from the county. Should a sewer system be installed by the town at some future date, all residents in the area served by that sewer system shall be required to connect to that system.
(D) Water. All town residents are required to connect to the town water system. Private water wells are not allowed on the town.
(Prior Code, § 9.05.200) (Ord. 2021-18, passed 12-15-2021)