The purpose of this Article
VIB is to facilitate the installation, construction, and maintenance of all types of small wind energy systems, including vertical and horizontal axis tower-mounted systems and vertical and horizontal axis building-mounted systems, subject to restrictions.
As used in this Article
VIB, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CUSTOMER NET ENERGY BILLING AGREEMENT
The contract between the owner of a small wind energy system
and the electrical utility provider that outlines requirements for
metering, billing, and connection to the power grid.
METEOROLOGICAL TOWER (MET TOWER)
Includes the temporary tower, base plate, anchors, guy wires
and hardware, anemometers (wind speed indicators), wind direction
vanes, booms to hold equipment for anemometers and vanes, data loggers,
instrument wiring, and any telemetry devices that are used to monitor
or transmit wind speed and wind flow characteristics over a period
of time for either instantaneous wind information or to characterize
the wind resource at a given location. For the purpose of this Part
1 MET towers shall refer only to those whose purpose are to analyze
the environmental factors needed to assess the potential to install,
construct or erect a small wind energy system.
MODIFICATION
Any change to the small wind energy system that materially
alters the size, type or location of the small wind energy system.
Like-kind replacements shall not be construed to be a modification.
NET METERING
The difference between the electricity supplied to a customer
over the electric distribution system and the electricity generated
by the customer's small wind energy system that is fed back into the
electric distribution system over a billing period.
POWER GRID
The transmission system, managed by ISO New England, created
to balance the supply and demand of electricity for consumers in New
England.
SMALL WIND ENERGY SYSTEM (SWES)
A wind energy conversion system consisting of a wind generator,
a tower, and associated control or conversion electronics that has
a rated generation capacity up to 100 kilowatts (kW) and will be used
primarily for on-site consumption. A SWES may be partially or totally
off-grid or may be power grid tied to allow for the purchase of electricity
from the local utility or allow excess electricity produced by the
SWES to be used by the utility.
SYSTEM HEIGHT
The vertical distance from ground level to the tip of the
wind generator blade when it is at its highest point.
TOWER
The monopole, guyed monopole or lattice structure that supports
a wind generator.
TOWER HEIGHT
The height above grade of the fixed portion of the tower,
excluding the wind generator.
WIND GENERATOR
The blades and associated mechanical and electrical conversion
components mounted on top of the tower whose purpose is to convert
kinetic energy of the wind into rotational energy used to generate
electricity.
Applicants may request waivers from the following performance
standards:
A. Tower style: The Planning Board may approve, without the need for
a variance, tower styles other than monopole towers if the applicant
can demonstrate that a monopole tower is not best suited for their
location based on a consideration of existing site development and
existing natural features on the site.
B. Setbacks: The Planning Board may approve, without the need for a
variance, SWESs closer to property lines than 110% of the total system
height, provided that the applicant acquires an access easement on
abutting property or properties that includes the land area of 110%
of the system height. The Planning Board may approve, without the
need for a variance, guy wires used to support the tower within the
required setback area only if the applicant can demonstrate that there
is no reasonable alternative location for the guy wires on site but
outside of the required setback area.
It is unlawful for any person to construct, install, or operate
a MET tower or SWES that is not in compliance with this article. SWESs
installed prior to the adoption of this article are exempt from the
requirements of this article except when modifications are proposed
to the SWES.