For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGGREGATED WECS PROJECT(S). A WECS located on two or more parcels or properties as specified in an application for a WECS construction or inspection certificate pursuant to this chapter.
APPLICANT. The entity or person who submits to the county, an application for the construction or operation of any WECS or substation or thereafter operates or owns a WECS.
EQUIVALENT NOISE LEVEL (Leq). A widely used noise parameter that calculates a constant level of noise with the same energy content as the varying acoustic noise signal being measured.
EQUIVALENT NOISE LEVEL, A-WEIGHTED (LAeq). Equivalent continuous noise level. The letter “A” denotes that A-weighting has been used.
EQUIVALENT NOISE LEVEL, C-WEIGHTED (LCeq). Equivalent continuous noise level. The letter “C” denotes that C-weighting has been used.
EQUIVALENT NOISE LEVEL, A-WEIGHTED OR C-WEIGHTED, 1-HOUR (LAeq 1- Hour,LCeq, 1-Hour). Equivalent continuous noise level. The letter “A” denotes that A-weighting has been used. The letter “C” denotes that C-weighting has been used. One-hour denotes that the duration of the (LXeq) measurement is 1-hour.
FINANCIAL ASSURANCE. Reasonable assurance from a creditworthy party, examples of which include a surety bond, trust instrument, cash escrow, or irrevocable letter of credit or combinations thereof.
NON-PARTICIPATING LANDOWNER. The person, firm, corporation, trust or other entity or entities with an equity interest in property contiguous to a WECS project which is not a participating landowner.
OPERATOR. The entity responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of a WECS, including any third party subcontractors.
OWNER. The person, firm, corporation, trust or other entity or entities with an equity interest in the WECS(s), including their respective successors and assigns. OWNER does not mean (i) the property owner from whom land is leased for locating the WECS (unless the property owner has an equity interest in the WECS); or (ii) any person holding a security interest in the WECS(s) solely to secure an extension of credit, or a person foreclosing on such security interest provided that such person sells the WECS(s) within one year of such foreclosure.
PARTICIPATING LANDOWNER. A landowner upon whose land a WECS is constructed, or who has contractually granted rights to an owner or developer with respect to a WECS.
PRIMARY STRUCTURE. For each property, the structure that one or more persons occupy the majority of time on that property for either business or personal reasons. PRIMARY STRUCTURE includes structures such as residences, commercial buildings, hospitals, and day care facilities. PRIMARY STRUCTURE excludes structures such as hunting sheds, storage sheds, pool houses, unattached garages and barns.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER. A qualified individual who is licensed or registered as a professional engineer in any state in the United States.
QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT ACOUSTICAL CONSULTANT. A specialist with demonstrated competence in the area of environmental acoustics obtained through academic training or work experience with full membership in the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE), Acoustical Society of America (ASA), or National Council of Acoustical Consultants, or equivalent credentials.
SHADOW FLICKER. The condition which occurs when the blades of a wind turbine pass between the sun and an observer, casting a readily observable, moving shadow on the observer and his or her immediate environment.
SHADOW FLICKER RECEPTOR. Any occupied structure, structure permitted for construction, or roadway where the WECS may cause shadow flicker to occur.
SUBSTATION. The apparatus that connects the electrical collection system of the WECS(s) and increases the voltage for connection with the utility’s transmission lines.
SWEPT AREA. The diameter of the least circle encompassing all blades for a WECS.
SWITCHING STATION. An apparatus or structure in the system similar to a substation but not necessarily increasing voltage into the grid.
WECS CONSTRUCTION PERMIT. The permit issued by the Building Commissioner for construction of a wind energy conversion system.
WECS INSPECTION CERTIFICATE. The certificate issued by the Building Commissioner to verify continued compliance with all requirements of this chapter which were in effect when the original WECS construction permit for the WECS or WECS project was issued
WECS METEOROLOGICAL TOWER. A tower, the primary or predominant purpose of which is to provide meteorological information in connection with the siting or operation of a WECS.
WECS PROJECT. Two or more WECS on a single property or aggregate properties as specified in an application for a WECS construction or operating permit pursuant to this chapter.
WECS TOWER. The monopole, freestanding or guyed structure that supports the energy capture, conversion, storage or transfer components of a WECS.
WECS TOWER HEIGHT or TOTAL HEIGHT. The distance measured from the ground level at the base of the WECS tower to the highest extension of the blades or rotor.
“WECS” WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM. All necessary devices that together convert wind energy into electricity and store or deliver that electricity to a utility’s transmission lines, including but not limited to the rotor, nacelle, generator, WECS tower, electrical components, WECS foundation, transformer, and electrical cabling from the WECS tower, substation, wind farm collection system, WECS meteorological towers, communications facilities and other required facilities and equipment.
(1) COMMERCIAL WECS or LARGE WIND SYSTEM. A wind energy conversion system which has a nameplate capacity (manufacturer’s rating) of more than 50 kilowatts per wind tower, or a total height of more than 140 feet, or a swept area of more than 40 feet.
(2) NON-COMMERCIAL WECS or SMALL WIND SYSTEM. A wind energy conversion system which has a nameplate capacity (manufacturer’s rating) of more than ten kilowatts per wind tower and less than or equal to 50 kilowatts per windtower, and a total height of more than 80 feet but less than or equal to 140 feet, and a swept area of 40 feet or less.
(3) MICRO WECS. A wind energy conversion system designed to provide electric power to a home or other local site for use by the owner, which has a nameplate capacity (manufacturer’s rating) less than or equal to ten kilowatts per windtower and a total height of 80 feet or less, or if building-mounted, projects no more than 15 feet above the highest point of the roof.
(Ord. 2010-02-CM, passed 4-5-10; Am. Ord. 2010-24-CM, passed 2-21-11)