Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in
this subsection, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this
subsection except where the context clearly indicates a different
meaning:
AGRICULTURAL DATA STATEMENT
A statement required for all solar applications on property
within an agricultural district containing a farm operation or on
property within 500 feet of a farm operation. The statement shall
include all information set forth in § 305-b of New York's
Agriculture and Markets Law.
AGRICULTURAL LANDS
A parcel consisting of prime farmland or farmland of statewide
importance that has been actively farmed for more than two farming
seasons within the last five years.
BUILDING-INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC (BIPV) SYSTEM
A combination of photovoltaic building components used to
replace conventional building materials and integrated into any building
envelope system, including but not limited to vertical facades including
glass and other facade material, semitransparent skylight systems,
roofing materials, and shading over windows.
DECOMMISSIONING
The removal and disposal of all solar panels, solar energy
equipment, structures, equipment and accessories, including subsurface
foundations and all other material, concrete, wiring, cabling, or
debris, that were installed in connection with a solar energy system
and the restoration of the parcel of land to the original state prior
to construction on which the solar energy system is built to either
of the following, at the landowner's (either the initial landowner
or its heirs, successors or assigns) sole option: i) the condition
such lands were in prior to the development, construction and operation
of the solar energy system, including but not limited to restoration,
regrading, and reseeding, or ii) the condition designed by the landowner
(either the initial landowner or its heirs, successors or assigns)
and the Town. Details of the expected decommissioning activities and
costs are to be described in the decommissioning plan and decommissioning
agreement as may be required pursuant to this article.
DECOMMISSIONING AGREEMENT
A written agreement between the applicant, initial landowner
and Town that sets forth the obligations of the applicant and/or the
initial landowner to properly decommission the solar energy system
if the use of such system is discontinued, abandoned or becomes inoperable.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR (EM)
An individual possessing the skills and knowledge to effectively
develop, reclaim and decommission a site for use as a large-scale
solar energy system.
FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE
Land, designated as "farmland of statewide importance" in
the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation
Service's (NRCS) Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) on Web Soil
Survey, that is of statewide importance for the production of food,
feed, fiber, forage, and oilseed crops as determined by the appropriate
state agency or agencies. Farmland of statewide importance may include
tracts of land that have been designated for agriculture by state
law.
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
respect.
GROUND-MOUNTED, FREESTANDING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A solar energy system that is anchored to the ground and
attached to a frame, pole or other mounting system, detached from
any other structure, for the purpose of producing electricity for
on-site consumption.
HONEOYE LAKE WATERSHED
The Honeoye Lake Watershed shall consist of all land south
of U.S. Route 20A, within the Town of Richmond, abutting Honeoye Lake
or any tributary, gulley, stream, and watercourses which carry runoff
and sedimentation into Honeoye Lake. The most recent U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) series topographical maps for the Honeoye and Honeoye
Lake quadrangles will be used to determine which properties are affected
by this chapter.
INITIAL LANDOWNER
The record title owner to the real property upon which a
solar energy system is constructed at the time such solar energy system
is originally constructed.
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 and is the rate at which electricity is used.
LARGE-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A solar energy system as defined in § 487(1)(B)
of New York's Real Property Tax Law that is ground-mounted and produces
more than 25 kilowatts (kW) or greater per hour of energy primarily
for the purpose of off-site sale and/or consumption.
MEGAWATT (MW)
A unit of electric capacity or electric load. An MW is equal
to 1,000 kilowatts.
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.
NEC
National Electric Code.
OFF-SITE USE
A solar energy system designed to be used primarily for the
export of solar energy to be used primarily by parcels other than
the parcel that the solar energy system is located on.
ON-SITE NET ENERGY METERING
A system in which solar energy generators are connected to
a public utility power grid and surplus power is transferred onto
the grid, allowing customers to offset the cost of power drawn from
the utility. The acceptance by utilities of balancing out the total
amount of energy consumed from decentralized sources with the total
amount of energy stored on site by a solar PV system.
ON-SITE USE
A solar energy system designed to be used primarily by the
building and/or parcel on which it is located.
POLLINATOR
Bees, birds, bats, and other insects or wildlife that pollinate
flowering plants, including both wild and managed insects.
PRIME FARMLAND
Land, designated as "prime farmland" in the U.S. Department
of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Soil
Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) on Web Soil Survey, that has the
best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing
food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops. Prime farmland has the
soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce
economically sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed
according to acceptable farming methods, including water management.
In general, prime farmlands have an adequate and dependable water
supply from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and
growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt
and sodium content, and few or no rocks. They are permeable to water
and air. Prime farmlands are not excessively erodible or saturated
with water for extended periods of time, and they either do not flood
frequently or are protected from flooding.
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. 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 the
exposed parts.
SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT
Electrical energy storage devices, material, hardware, inverters,
or other electrical equipment and conduit, not to include any type
of battery energy storage system or similar device, that are used
with solar panels to produce and distribute electricity.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
Electrical energy storage devices, material, hardware, inverters,
or other electrical equipment and conduit, not to include any type
of battery energy storage system or similar device, that are used
with solar panels to produce and distribute electricity.
SOLAR PANEL
A photovoltaic device capable of collecting and converting
solar energy into electrical energy.
STORAGE BATTERY
A device that stores energy and makes it available in an
electrical form.
UNIFIED SOLAR PERMIT (USP)
An expedited solar permitting process developed by the NY-Sun
public-private partnership which uses a unified permit across municipalities
in New York State for certain solar energy systems.