[Ord. #2008-20, § 1]
The purpose of the within section is to promote the safe, effective
and efficient use of small Municipal Wind Energy Systems to reduce
the on-site consumption of utilities supplied electricity within the
Borough.
[Ord. #2008-20, § 2]
The governing body of the Borough of Beachwood finds that:
a.
Wind energy is an abundant, renewable, and nonpolluting energy resource;
b.
Converting wind to electricity will reduce our dependence on nonrenewable
energy resources, and decrease the air and water pollution that results
from the use of conventional energy sources;
c.
Distributed small wind energy systems will also enhance the reliability
and power quality of the power grid, reduce peak power demands, and
help diversify the State's energy supply portfolio; and
d.
Small wind energy systems make the electricity supply market more
competitive by promoting customer choice.
e.
New Jersey's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) requires each
supplier/provider, as defined at N.J.A.C. 14:8-1.2, that sells electricity
to retail customers in New Jersey to provide a percentage of their
retail electricity sales from renewable energy sources, beginning
at three and one-half (3.5%) percent in 2004 and increasing to twenty-two
and one half (22.5%) percent by 2021.
f.
That the Borough wishes to establish initial standards for Small
Municipal Wind Energy Systems so that this clean renewable energy
resource can be utilized in a cost effective and timely manner for
Beachwood.
[Ord. #2008-20, § 3]
This section shall be known as the Small Municipal Wind Energy
System Ordinance. It shall facilitate the permitting of small wind
energy systems for Municipal use and help protect and preserve the
public health and safety of the residents of the Borough of Beachwood.
[Ord. #2008-20, § 4]
As set forth in this section the following definitions shall
apply:
Shall mean the Beachwood Mayor and Borough Council.
Shall mean a structure designed to support the gathering
of wind energy resource data, and includes the tower, base plate,
anchors, guy cables and hardware, anemometers (wind speed indicators),
wind director vanes, booms to hold equipment anemometers and vanes,
data logger, 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.
Shall mean the Borough of Beachwood that intends to own and
operate the small wind energy system in accordance with this section.
Shall mean the cross sectional dimension of the circle swept
by the rotating blades of a wind-powered energy generator.
Shall mean a wind energy system, as defined in this section,
that:
Shall mean, in relation to a wind energy system, the vertical
distance from the ground to the tip of a wind generator blade when
the tip is at its highest point.
Shall mean a monopole, freestanding, or guyed structure that
supports a wind generator.
Shall mean a wind generator and all associated equipment,
including any base, blade, foundation, nacelle, rotor, tower, transformer,
vane, wire, inverter, batteries or other component necessary to fully
utilize the wind generator.
Shall mean equipment that converts energy from the wind into
electricity. This term includes the rotor, blades and associated mechanical
and electrical conversion components necessary to generate, store,
and/or transfer energy.
[Ord. #2008-20, § 5]
A small municipal wind energy system shall be a permitted use
in all zones subject to the following requirements:
a.
Setbacks. A wind tower for a small wind energy system shall be set
back a distance equal to the Borough's building setback requirements.
No portion of the wind generator shall extend beyond the setback line,
nor into the following:
b.
Access.
1.
All ground-mounted electrical and control equipment shall be labeled
and secured to prevent unauthorized access.
2.
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 height of eight (8') feet above the ground.
c.
Lighting. A small wind energy system shall not be artificially lighted
unless such light is required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
d.
Appearance, color, and finish. The wind generator and the tower shall
remain painted or finished in the color or finish that was originally
applied by the manufacturer, unless a different color of finish is
approved in the zoning approval.
e.
Signs. There may be a sign that is visible from a public road posted
on a small wind generator system or associated building including
appropriate warning signs or municipal identification.
f.
Utility notification and interconnection. Small wind energy systems
that connect to the electric utility shall comply with the New Jersey's
Net Metering and Interconnection Standards for Class I Renewable Energy
Systems at N.J.A.C. 14:4-9.
g.
Met towers. A met tower shall be permitted under the same standards,
permit requirements, restoration requirements and permit procedures
as a small wind energy system.
[Ord. #2008-20, § 6]
The Borough shall submit to the Borough Planning Board for a
courtesy review a plot plan showing:
a.
Property lines and physical dimensions of the property;
b.
Location, dimensions, and types of existing major structures on the
property;
c.
Location of the proposed small wind energy system tower;
d.
The right-of-way of any public road that is contiguous with the property;
e.
Any overhead utility lines;
f.
Small wind energy system specifications, including manufacturer and
model, rotor diameter, tower height, tower type (freestanding or guyed),
The Borough shall additionally forward copies of it's plot
plan for educational purposes to the Beachwood Elementary School and
the Toms River Regional Middle School South.
