[Adopted 9-13-16 by Ord. No. 2016-07]
[Added 9-13-16 by Ord. No. 2016-07]
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
Solar panels and all associated equipment that collect, store and distribute solar energy for heating, cooling or electricity generating.
SOLAR PANEL
A structure containing one or more receptive cells; the purpose of which is to convert solar energy into useable electrical energy through the use of solar panels.
TOWER
A monopole, freestanding or guyed structure that supports a wind generator.
WIND ENERGY SYSTEM
A wind turbine and all associated equipment, including a base, blade, foundation, nacelle, rotor, tower, transformer, vane, wire, inverter, batteries or other components necessary to fully utilize the wind generator.
WIND TURBINE
Equipment that converts energy from the wind into electricity. This term includes rotor, blades and associated mechanical and electrical conversion components necessary to generate, store and/or transfer energy.
[Added 9-13-16 by Ord. No. 2016-07]
A. 
A zoning permit and building permit shall be required for the installation of a wind or solar energy system. A solar energy system in a commercial zone or on property with a commercial use shall require site plan approval. A wind energy system shall also require site plan approval.
B. 
An application for a zoning permit for a wind or solar energy system shall include the following:
(1) 
Property survey showing all structures.
(2) 
Location, dimensions and type of proposed energy system, including all structures accessory to the system.
(3) 
Manufacturer's energy system specifications, including make and model.
(4) 
Proof of notification to the electric utility company for interconnection purposes.
(5) 
Certification from a professional engineer and/or the installation company that the proposed installation is in compliance with manufacturer's guidelines.
(6) 
Other documents and plans regarding the installation of the system sufficient for the Zoning Officer to make a formal decision concerning conformance with the ordinance.
(7) 
Statement from applicant that installation will comply with all environmental laws and regulations.
(8) 
Current photographs of the proposed installation site.
[Added 9-13-16 by Ord. No. 2016-07]
For the purposes of this chapter, the design capacity of a wind or solar energy system shall not exceed the energy needs of the property on which it is located.
[Added 9-13-16 by Ord. No. 2016-07]
A. 
Regulations.
(1) 
Wind turbines are permitted in all zone districts.
(2) 
Wind turbines must comply with the bulk requirements of the district unless specifically addressed in this section.
(3) 
Minimum lot size shall be 10 acres.
(4) 
No more than one wind turbine per lot.
(5) 
Lot averaging shall not be permitted for installation of more than one wind turbine.
(6) 
Minimum setbacks: All wind turbines shall be set back from all property lines a minimum distance of 300 feet. Guy lines may encroach into the setbacks provided that they comply with the bulk requirements of the zone.
(7) 
Wind turbines, support equipment and/or guy wires shall not be permitted in the front yard.
(8) 
Mechanical equipment and buildings provided for storage of materials and equipment shall conform to the standards for an accessory structure within the applicable zone.
(9) 
Maximum height for a wind turbine shall not exceed a height of 80 feet, including the height of the blades at their highest point.
(10) 
Wind turbines shall not be permitted as rooftop installations.
(11) 
Wind turbines on residential properties shall have a nameplate capacity of 100 kilowatts or less.
(12) 
Sound levels of the wind energy system shall not exceed 55 DBA at a common property line. These levels may be exceeded during short-term events such as utility outages and/or severe storms.
(13) 
Wind turbines shall be designated with an automatic brake or other similar device to prevent over-speeding and excessive pressure on the tower structure.
(14) 
Wind energy systems shall not be lighted except to the extent required by the FAA or other applicable authority.
(15) 
All ground-mounted electrical and control equipment shall be labeled and secured to prevent unauthorized access.
(16) 
Wind energy systems shall be designed to prevent interference with any television, radio, or electronic reception or transmission and shall be in compliance with any Federal, State or County regulations.
(17) 
The tower shall be designed and installed so as not to provide step bolts, a ladder, or other publicly accessible means of climbing the tower for a minimum of 10 feet above the ground level.
(18) 
All moving parts of the wind energy system shall be a minimum of 25 feet above the ground level.
(19) 
The blades of the wind energy system shall be constructed of a corrosive-resistant material.
(20) 
A clearly marked manual shut-off switch for the electricity from the wind energy system shall be installed in close proximity to the meter on the exterior of the principal structure.
(21) 
New Jersey Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics and/or FAA approval or jurisdictional determination for the monopole shall be obtained by applicant.
[Added 9-13-16 by Ord. No. 2016-07]
A. 
Rooftop solar systems.
(1) 
Solar panels shall be permitted as a rooftop installation in any zoning district.
(2) 
The solar panels shall not exceed the height of the rooftop and must match the pitch of the roof. Panels may not be installed beyond the edges of the roof.
(3) 
A clearly marked manual shut-off switch for the electricity from the solar panels shall be installed in close proximity to the meter on the exterior of the principal structure.
(4) 
An official National Electric Code (N.E.C.) placard, stating there are solar panels on the principal structure, shall be place near the front entrance of the structure.
B. 
Ground mount solar panel systems.
(1) 
Ground arrays shall not be permitted in the front yard.
(2) 
Ground arrays shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from side or rear property lines or in conformance with the required setbacks, whichever is greater.
(3) 
Ground arrays shall be located to minimize any glare towards an adjoining property.
(4) 
Ground arrays shall not exceed a height of 15 feet.
(5) 
Ground arrays shall not be permitted on any lot that is less than one acre.
(6) 
A ground array system shall not add, contribute to or be calculated to cause an increase in impervious coverage calculations.
(7) 
A clearly marked shut-off switch for the electricity from the solar panels shall be installed in close proximity to the meter as required by code or the Building Official.
(8) 
Ground arrays shall be screened and or landscaped to shield the system when viewed from the street and/or adjacent properties.
C. 
The provisions in this chapter do not apply to the installation of decorative solar yard, driveway or pathway lights or for panels that are less than six square feet providing power to an accessory structure.
D. 
All solar energy systems shall meet all of the requirements of the National Electric Code.
[Added 9-13-16 by Ord. No. 2016-07]
A. 
Wind and solar energy systems shall not be used for displaying or advertising except for the labeling information noted in Subsection F below.
B. 
The design of wind or solar energy systems shall, to the extent reasonably possible, use materials, colors, textures, screening and landscaping that will blend the facility into the natural setting and existing environment.
C. 
The wind or solar energy system shall be located so that tree removal is not required to the extent reasonably possible.
D. 
All electric lines and utility wires shall be installed underground.
E. 
The installation of a wind or solar energy system shall conform to the requirements of the electric utility company for interconnection as the case may dictate.
F. 
A minimum of one sign shall be posted near ground level on the interconnection cabinet warning of high voltage. In addition, the following information shall be posted on a label or labels installed at the site:
(1) 
The maximum power output of the system.
(2) 
Nominal voltage and maximum current.
(3) 
Manufacturer's or installer's name, address and telephone number, and the serial number and model number of the equipment.
(4) 
Emergency and normal shutdown procedures.
G. 
Systems that connect to the electric utility shall comply with the New Jersey net metering and interconnection standards for Class I Renewable Energy Systems at N.J.A.C. 14:4-9.
H. 
A wind or solar energy system that is out of service for a continuous twelve-month period shall be deemed to have been abandoned.
(1) 
The Zoning Officer may issue a notice of abandonment to the owner. The notice shall be sent via regular mail and certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner of record.
(2) 
Any abandoned system shall be removed at the owner's sole expense within six months of the date on the notice of abandonment from the Zoning Officer. Prior to removal, the owner shall obtain a demolition permit from the Construction Official. Upon removal, the site shall be cleaned, restored and landscaped to blend with the existing surrounding vegetation at the time of the removal.
(3) 
The Zoning Officer may issue a summons to the owner for failure to remove the abandoned system as requested in the notice of abandonment.
(4) 
When the owner of the wind or solar energy system had been notified to remove same and has not removed the system within six months after receiving the notice, the Township may pursue legal action to have the system removed at the owner's expense.
(5) 
Solar panels removed from the site shall be deposited at a recognized solar panel recycling center. Panels that are not recycled must be disposed of in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
I. 
No wind or solar energy system shall be permitted on any government designated Historic District or structure.