Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ARRAY Any number of electrically connected photovoltaic (PV) modules providing a single electrical output.
BUILDING-INTEGRATED SYSTEM A solar photovoltaic system that is constructed as an integral part of a principal or accessory building or structure and where the building-integrated three system features maintain a uniform profile or surface of vertical walls, window openings, and roofing. Such a system is used in lieu of a separate mechanical device, replacing or substituting for an architectural or structural component of the building or structure that appends or interrupts the uniform surfaces of walls, window openings and roofing. A building-integrated system may occur within vertical facades, replacing view glass, spandrel glass or other façade material; into semitransparent skylight systems; into roofing systems, replacing traditional roofing materials; or other building or structure envelope systems.
BUILDING-MOUNTED SYSTEM A solar photovoltaic system attached to any part or type of roof on a building or structure that has an occupancy permit on file with the Town of Cortlandville and that is either the principal structure or an accessory structure on a recorded lot. This system also includes any solar-based architectural elements.
DRIP LINE The outermost edge of a roof including eaves, overhangs and gutters.
FOREST CONVERSION (SUBSTANTIAL) Substantial forest conversion shall be defined as five acres or 10% of the project area, whichever is greater. The project area shall be defined as the fenced-in perimeter area plus any access roads.
FOREST FRAGMENTATION The breaking of large, contiguous, forested areas into smaller pieces of forest; typically these pieces are separated by roads, agriculture, utility corridors, subdivisions, forest conversions, or other human development.
GLARE The effect by reflections of light with intensity sufficient as determined in a commercially reasonable manner to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility in any material respects.
GROUND-MOUNTED SYSTEM A solar photovoltaic system mounted on a structure, pole or series of poles constructed specifically to support the photovoltaic system and not attached to any other structure, and the primary purpose of producing electricity or thermal energy for on-site or off-site use.
INTERCONNECTION The technical and practical link between the solar generator and the grid providing electricity to the greater community.
KILOWATT (kW) A unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts, which constitutes the basic unit of electrical demand. A watt is a metric measurement of power (not energy) and is the rate (not the duration) at which electricity is used. 1,000 kW is equal to 1 megawatt (MW).
LOT COVERAGE The area of the solar energy system that is surrounded by fencing.
MODULE A module is the smallest protected assembly of interconnected PV cells.
NATIVE PERENNIAL VEGETATION Native wildflowers, forbs, and grasses that serve as habitat, forage, and migratory way stations for pollinators and shall not include any prohibited or regulated invasive species as determined by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
NET METERING AGREEMENT An agreement with a local electric utility that allows customers to receive a credit for surplus electricity generated by certain renewable energy systems.
NONPARTICIPATING RESIDENCE Residences and residential structures on an adjacent parcel to where a Tier 3 solar energy system is proposed or an existing Tier 3 solar energy system is located.
POLLINATOR Bees, birds, bats, and other insects or wildlife that pollinate flowering plants, and includes both wild and managed insects.
PRIME FARMLAND Land in active agricultural production defined as active three of the last five years and is designated as “prime farmland” in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)’s Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database on Web Soil Survey, that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is also available for these land uses.
QUALIFIED SOLAR INSTALLER A person who has skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of solar electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training on the hazards involved. Persons who are on the list of eligible photovoltaic installers maintained by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), or who are certified as a solar installer by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), shall be deemed to be qualified solar installers for the purposes of this definition.
REMOTE NET METERING Allows solar photovoltaic owner generators to apply excess generation credits from the generator system ("host account") to other meters on property that is owned or leased by the same customer and are within the same load zone as the generator ("satellites").
SOLAR-BASED ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT Structural/architectural element that provides protection from weather that includes awnings, canopies, porches or sunshades and that is constructed with the primary covering consisting of solar PV modules, and may or may not include additional solar PV-related equipment.
SOLAR COLLECTOR A photovoltaic cell, panel or array, or solar hot air or water collector device, which relies upon solar radiation as an energy source for the generation of electricity or transfer of stored heat.
SOLAR EASEMENT A document recorded pursuant to New York State Real Property Law § 335-b, the purpose of which is to secure the right to receive sunlight across real property of another for continued access to sunlight necessary to operate a solar energy system.
SOLAR ENERGY APPLICANT Any person, firm, corporation or any other entity submitting an application to the Town of Cortlandville for a solar energy system.
SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT Solar collectors, controls, inverters, energy storage devices, and other materials and hardware, associated with the production of electrical or thermal energy from solar radiation.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM An electrical or thermal energy generating system composed of solar collectors, solar thermal systems, and/or solar energy equipment. A solar energy system in the Town of Cortlandville is classified as Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3:
(1) Tier 1 solar energy systems includes the following:
(a) Building-integrated solar energy systems.
(b) Building-mounted solar energy systems.
(2) Tier 2 ground-mounted small-scale solar energy systems includes solar energy systems up to and including 2,500 square feet (measuring the equipment surface area) and the principal purpose of which is to provide electrical power to be consumed on-site or to provide power to be shared with other power customers (which may include both physical and virtual aggregation).
(3) Tier 3 large-scale solar energy systems:
(a) A Tier 3.a. solar energy system is primarily for the purpose of on-site or off-site sale of electricity consumption and is larger than 2,500 square feet in size of solar collectors (measuring the equipment surface area) per lot, and up to 10 acres (measuring the area that is surrounded by fencing).
(b) A Tier 3.b. solar energy system is over 10 acres in size (defined as fenced-in area that encloses the panels and other related solar energy equipment).
SOLAR PANEL A photovoltaic device capable of collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy.
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) RELATED EQUIPMENT Items including a solar photovoltaic cell, panel or array, lines, mounting brackets, framing and foundations used for or intended to be used for collection of solar energy.
SOLAR SKYWAY The space between a solar energy system and the sun through which solar radiation passes.
SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM A system in which water or other liquid is directly heated by the sunlight. The heated liquid is then used for purposes such as space heating and cooling, domestic hot water and the heating of swimming pools.
TRACKING SYSTEM A number of photovoltaic modules mounted such that they track the movement of the sun across the sky to maximize energy production, either with a single-axis or dual-axis mechanism.
WILDLIFE CORRIDOR An area in the environment that functions as a passageway for the purpose of providing connectivity between wildlife species by means of dispersal and migration of individuals. Wildlife corridors offer the possibility of linking habitats and reducing the isolation of wildlife populations.