CLEAR AREA
Area surrounding a wind turbine to be kept free of residences or places of business as determined by the Special Permit Granting Authority. See §
375-40.3C(2)(b).
COMMERCIAL-SIZE WECF
A wind energy conversion facility (WECF) having a rated electrical power output greater than 10 kilowatts, other than a Municipal WECF as defined below. (Commercial-size WECFs are not covered by this By-law; see Article
41 of the Zoning Bylaws.)
HAWT
Horizontal-axis wind turbine.
HEIGHT
The height of a HAWT measured from the natural grade at the
base of the tower to the tip of a blade at its highest point, or the
maximum height of a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT).
HUB HEIGHT
The height of a HAWT measured vertically from the natural
grade at the base of the tower to the centerline of the rotor.
MUNICIPAL WECF
A wind energy conversion facility (WECF) located on Town-owned property designed to provide at least 50% of its electrical output, or of the value thereof, for the use or benefit of the Town of Dartmouth and without regard to the ownership of the structure or equipment. (Municipal WECFs are not covered by this Bylaw; see Article
42 of the Zoning By-Laws.)
NACELLE
The frame and housing at the top of a HAWT tower that encloses
the gearbox, generator, and other accessories, and protects them from
the weather.
RESIDENTIAL-SIZE WECF
A wind energy conversion facility (WECF) having a rated electrical
power output equal to or less than 10 kilowatts, other than a Municipal
WECF as defined above.
ROTOR
The blades and hub of the wind turbine that rotate during
turbine operation.
SPECIAL PERMIT GRANTING AUTHORITY (SPGA)
The Special Permit Granting Authority (SPGA) for the Town
of Dartmouth shall be the Select Board of the Town and shall have
the authority to issue Special Permits for wind energy conversion
facilities.
TECHNICAL RESEARCH GROUP (TRG)
The group designated in §
375-40.8A of this bylaw with the authority to review applications for Special Permits for wind energy conversion facilities and to make recommendations on such applications to the SPGA.
TOWER
The structure that supports the turbine, rotor, generator,
and accessory equipment. The tower may be a monopole or lattice design,
with or without guy wires depending on the height and other factors.
VAWT
Vertical-axis wind turbine; sometimes called a Darrieus-type
wind turbine.
WECF-SETBACK
The distance measured at grade from the center of the base
of the tower to the nearest property line.
WIND ENERGY CONVERSION FACILITY (WECF)
All equipment, machinery and structures used in connection
with the conversion of wind energy to electricity. This includes,
but is not limited to, all transmission, storage, collection and supply
equipment, substations, network of cabling, transformers, site-access
and service roads, and machinery associated with its use. A wind energy
conversion facility may consist of one or more wind turbines.
WIND TURBINE
Any electromechanical device that converts kinetic energy
of the wind into rotational energy to turn an electrical generator
shaft. Wind turbine facilities usually consist of a horizontal-axis
rotor, nacelle and supporting tower (HAWTs). Both HAWTs and vertical-axis
wind machines (VAWTs) of residential size are covered by this bylaw.
The SPGA shall grant a Special Permit for a residential WECF
only if it finds that the proposal complies with the provisions of
this bylaw or has explicitly been granted waivers from those provisions.
A. General. Proposed WECFs shall be consistent with all applicable Town,
state and federal requirements, including, but not limited to, all
applicable electrical, construction, noise, safety, environmental
and communications requirements.
B. Visual impact. The applicant shall minimize any impact on the visual
character of surrounding neighborhoods and the community by painting
the WECF a non-reflective color that blends with the surroundings.
C. Equipment shelters. All equipment necessary for monitoring and operation
of the WECF should be secured within the wind turbine tower or base.
If this is infeasible, ancillary equipment may be located outside
the tower or base, provided such equipment is either contained within
an underground vault, enclosed within a separate structure, or hidden
behind a year-round landscape or vegetated buffer.
D. Lighting and signage. Unless required by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), wind turbines shall not be lighted on a continuous basis. The
WECF shall be free of all company logos, advertising, and similar
promotional markings. Signs on the facility shall be limited to those
needed to warn of any danger; and educational signs providing information
on the technology. All signs shall comply with the requirements of
the Town's sign regulations.
E. Noise. The WECF shall conform to Massachusetts noise regulations
(310 CMR 7.10).
All modifications to a WECF made after issuance of the Special
Permit shall require approval by the SPGA.
Once a Special Permit for a residential WECF has been approved,
the applicant shall duly record a copy of the Special Permit with
the Bristol County Registry of Deeds. All subsequent deeds to the
property shall refer to the Special Permit and incorporate it by reference.
All conditions under which the Special Permit was originally granted
shall be binding on all successive owners of the property.
The provisions of this Bylaw are severable. If any provision
of this Bylaw is held invalid, the other provisions shall not be affected
thereby. If the application of this Bylaw or any of its provisions
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the application of
this Bylaw and its provisions to other persons and circumstances shall
not be affected thereby.