As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A structure, the use of which is customarily incidental and
subordinate to that of the principal building and which is not attached
thereto, and which is located on the same lot or premises as the principal
building.
COLLECTIVE SOLAR
Solar installations owned collectively through subdivision
homeowner associations, "adopt-a-solar-panel" programs, or other similar
arrangements.
FLUSH-MOUNTED SOLAR PANEL
Photovoltaic panels and tiles that are installed flush to
the surface of a roof and which cannot be angled or raised.
LARGE-SCALE SOLAR
Solar photovoltaic systems that produce 10 or more kilowatts
(kW) per hour of energy or solar-thermal systems which serve the building
to which they are attached.
NET METERING
A billing arrangement that allows solar customers to get
credit for excess electricity that they generate and deliver back
to the grid so that they only pay for their net electricity usage.
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM
A solar energy system that produces electricity by the use
of semiconductor devices, called "photovoltaic cells," that generate
electricity whenever light strikes them.
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. Persons
who are not on NYSERDA's list of eligible installers or NABCEP's
list of certified installers may be deemed to be qualified solar installers
if the Town determines such persons have had adequate training to
determine the degree and extent of the hazard and the personal protective
equipment and job planning necessary to perform the installation safely.
Such training shall include the proper use of special precautionary
techniques and personal protective equipment, as well as the skills
and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed energized parts from
other parts of electrical equipment and to determine the nominal voltage
of exposed live parts.
ROOFTOP-MOUNTED SOLAR SYSTEM
A solar power system in which solar panels are mounted on
top of the structure of a roof as a flush-mounted system.
SMALL-SCALE SOLAR
A photovoltaic system that produces up to, but less than,
10 kilowatts (kW) per hour of energy and does not provide energy for
any other buildings.
SOLAR ACCESS
Space open to the sun and clear of overhangs or shade, including,
but not limited to, the orientation of streets and lots to the sun,
so as to permit the use of active and/or passive solar energy systems
on individual properties.
SOLAR COLLECTOR
A solar 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 ENERGY EQUIPMENT/SYSTEM
Solar collectors, controls, energy storage devices, heat
pumps, heat exchangers, and other materials, hardware or equipment
necessary to the process by which solar radiation is collected, converted
into another form of energy, stored, protected from unnecessary dissipation
and distributed. Solar systems include solar thermal, photovoltaic
and concentrated solar.
SOLAR PANEL
A device for the direct conversion of solar energy into electricity.
SOLAR-THERMAL SYSTEMS
Solar thermal systems directly heat water or other liquid
using sunlight. The heated liquid is used for such purposes as space
heating and cooling, domestic hot water, and heating pool water.