(a) Purpose. To encourage and promote the use of alternate energy sources by providing solar and wind access protection.
(b) Solar Energy Collection Systems.
(1) When a solar energy collection system is installed on a lot, any accessory structure or vegetation on an abutting lot shall not be located so as to block the solar collector’s access to solar energy. The portion of the solar collector that is protected is that portion which:
(A) Is located so as not to be shaded between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. by a hypothetical twelve-foot obstruction located on the lot line; and
(B) Has an area of not greater than one-half of the heated floor area of the structure, or the largest of the structures, served.
(2) This section does not apply to accessory structures or vegetation existing on an abutting lot at the time of the installation of the solar energy collection system, or on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, whichever is later. This section controls any accessory structure erected on, or vegetation planted on, abutting lots after the installation of the solar energy collection system.
(3) A copy of the building permit for the solar energy collection system shall be kept on file in the community development department and the date the building permit is issued shall be the effective date of this section. The solar facility must be completed and have a final inspection, approved by the building inspector, within one calendar year from the date the building permit is issued.
(c) Clotheslines. It shall be unlawful to establish any private covenant or restriction which prohibits the installation and/or use of a clothesline in any residential zone.
(d) Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS). Wind energy conversion systems shall be permitted in all zones subject to the following requirements:
(1) Definitions.
(A) "Wind energy conversion system" means a machine that converts the kinetic energy in the wind into a usable form of electrical or mechanical energy (commonly known as a wind turbine or windmill). The WECS includes all parts of the system except the tower and the transmission equipment.
(B) "Over speed control" means a mechanism used to limit the speed of blade rotation to below the design limits of the WECS.
(C) "Swept area" means the largest area of the WECs which extracts energy from the wind stream. In a conventional propeller-type WECS there is a direct relationship between swept area and the rotor diameter.
(D) "Dominant wind direction" means the direction from which eighty percent of the energy contained in the wind flows.
(E) "Total height" means the height of the tower and the furthest vertical extension of the WECS.
(2) Building Permit Application for A WECS. Building permit applications for a wind energy conversion system shall be accompanied by a plot plan drawn in sufficient detail to clearly describe the following:
(A) Property line and physical dimensions of the site;
(B) Locations, dimensions, and types of existing structures, and uses on site;
(C) Location of the proposed WECS;
(D) Location of all above-ground utility lines on-site or within one radius of the total height of the WECS;
(E) Location and size of the largest structure taller than thirty-five feet or tree which may potentially grow taller than thirty-five feet during the lifetime of the WECS within a five hundred feet radius of the proposed WECS.
(3) General Provisions. Installation of all wind energy conversion systems shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) Size. This chapter covers those WECS whose swept area is five hundred square feet or less. For conventional propeller WECS, this would be approximately twenty-five feet diameter.
(B) Compliance With Uniform Building Code. Building permit applications shall be accompanied by standard drawings of the structural components of the wind energy conversion system and support structures, including base and footings. The application shall also include engineering data and calculations to demonstrate compliance of the support structure with seismic and structural design provisions of the Uniform Building Code. Drawing and engineering calculations shall be certified in writing by a California-registered structural engineer. This certification can be supplied by the manufacturer. Where the structural components of an installation vary from the standard design or specification, the proposed modifications shall be certified by a California-registered structural engineer for compliance with the seismic and structural design provisions of the Uniform Building Code.
All equipment and materials shall be used or installed in accordance with such drawings. The above certifications by a California-registered structural engineer shall be deemed to satisfy all applicable requirements of the Uniform Building Code.
(C) Compliance With National Electrical Code. Building permit applications shall be accompanied by a drawing identifying the location of metering, protection and control devices, and transformer equipment in sufficient detail to allow for a determination that the manner of installation will conform to Articles 250 (Grounding), 280 (Lightning Arrestors), 300 (Wiring Methods), 310 (Conductors for General Wiring), 430 (Motors), 445 (Generators), and 450 (Transformers and Transformer Vaults) of the National Electrical Code. The application shall include a statement from a California-registered electrical engineer indicating that the electrical system conforms with good engineering practices and complies with the above articles of the National Electrical Code. All equipment and materials shall be used or installed in accordance with such drawings and diagrams. This certification can be supplied by the manufacturer.
Where the electrical components of an installation vary from the standard design or specifications, the proposed modifications shall be reviewed and certified by a California-registered electrical engineer for compliance with the requirements of the national electrical code and good engineering practices. The above certification by a California-registered electrical engineer shall be deemed to satisfy all applicable requirements of the national electrical code.
(D) Rotor Safety. Each wind energy conversion system must be equipped with both manual and automatic controls to limit the rotational speed of the blade below the design limits of the rotor. The application must include a statement by a California-registered engineer certifying that the rotor and over speed controls have been designed and fabricated for the proposed use in accordance with good engineering practices. The engineer should also certify the compatibility of possible towers with available rotors. That certification can be supplied by the manufacturer.
(E) Guy Wires. Anchor points for guy wires shall be located within property lines and not on or across any above-ground electric transmission or distribution line. Guy wires shall be enclosed by a fence six feet high or the WECS shall be set back from the property line the total height of the WECS.
(F) Tower Access. Lattice towers capable of being climbed shall be enclosed by a locked, protective fence at least six feet high located not closer than eight feet from the ground. Other towers should have either: (a) tower-climbing apparatus located not closer than twelve feet from the ground; (b) a locked anticlimb device installed on the tower; or (c) the tower shall be completely enclosed by a locked, protective fence at least six feet high.
(G) Noise. The WECS shall meet the requirements of the Noise Element of the General Plan.
(H) Electromagnetic Interference. A wind energy conversion system shall comply with the provisions of 47 C.F.R., Parts 15 and 18. The wind energy conversion system shall be operated such that no harmful interference is caused. When notified by the city building inspector that a wind energy conversion system is causing harmful interference, the operator shall promptly take steps to eliminate the harmful interference.
(I) Signs. At least one sign shall be posted at the base of the tower warning of high voltage. The sign shall also include emergency phone number and emergency shutdown procedures.
(J) Utility Notification. No wind turbine shall be interconnected with a utility company’s grid until said company has been notified in accordance with procedures established by the California Public Utilities Commission.
(K) Height. The minimum height of the lowest part of the WECS shall be either thirty feet above the highest structure allowed under the local zoning requirement or potential tree height, whichever is higher, if it is within a two hundred foot radius. If an obstruction is within a two hundred one to five hundred foot radius, the lowest part of the WECS shall be ten feet above it.
(L) Setbacks. The WECS shall be located such that the furthest extension of the apparatus does not cross any property lines, except as provided for under subsection (d)(3)(E) of this section.
(M) Abatement. If a wind energy conversion system or systems are not maintained in operational condition and pose a potential safety hazard, the owner or operator shall take expeditious action to remedy the situation. The city of Woodland reserves the authority to abate any hazardous situation and to pass the cost of such abatement on to the owner or operator of the system. If the city of Woodland determines that the WECS has been abandoned, the system shall be removed within thirty days of written notice to the owner or operator of the system.
(N) Liability Insurance. The applicant, owner, leasee, or assignee shall maintain a current insurance policy which will cover installation and operation of the wind energy conversion system at all times. Said policy shall provide a minimum of three hundred thousand dollars property and personal liability coverage. (Amended during the March 2009 supplement.)