No person shall install or erect any solar energy system in
the Town that is subject to this chapter without a permit from the
Town issued under this chapter.
An application for a permit under this chapter shall be submitted
to the Town Clerk, in accordance with the Town's current policy and
procedures, and shall contain the following information:
A. Description. A description of the solar energy facility, including
size, method of installation, amount of power to be generated and
whether the facility is for private residential or business use or
for commercial energy production. The description shall also include
technical specifications and supporting calculations necessary to
demonstrate the structural integrity of the installation, including,
but not limited to, the ability to withstand wind.
B. Contact information. The name, address, and telephone number of the
owner of the property upon which the facility is to be installed.
If the applicant is different than the property owner, then the applicant's
information shall be provided for the applicant as well. Also, the
name and address of the party responsible for maintaining the system.
C. Existing conditions:
(3) Proposed installation location and details.
(4) Existing land use and features (woods, cropland, slopes exceeding
12%, wetlands, etc.).
(5) All information needed to meet the requirements of the Site Plan Review Ordinance, Chapter
461.
(6) For a solar energy system - primary use, existing sound and vibration
measurement, following the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Measurement Protocol for Sound and Vibration Assessment of Proposed
and Existing Electric Power Plants.
D. Proposed plan.
(1) Proposed location and spacing of solar collectors.
(2) Proposed location of access roads.
(3) Proposed planned location of underground or overhead electric lines
connecting the system to the building, substation, or other electric
load.
(4) Location of proposed new electrical equipment, other than at the
existing building or substation, that is the connection point for
the system.
(5) Proposed erosion and sediment control measures, as required in Chapter
429.
(6) Proposed stormwater management measures as required in Chapter
467.
(7) Scaled elevation drawings accurately depicting the proposed solar
energy system on the property and its relationship to any buildings
or structures on adjacent lots.
(8) Proposed maintenance plan for grounds, including surrounding the
systems.
(9) Proposed plan outlining the use, storage, and disposal of chemicals
used in the cleaning of the collectors and/or reflectors.
(10)
A description and drawing showing the screening/landscaping plan being proposed; refer to Chapter
461.
(11)
For solar energy system - primary use, also the following:
(a)
A geotechnical report for the site from a qualified geotechnical
engineer.
(b)
A sound and vibration level study, following the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources Measurement Protocol for Sound and Vibration
Assessment of Proposed and Existing Electric Power Plants.
(c)
A proposed safety and security plan, including, among other
things, emergency access and fire protection measures and measures
to identify and address hazardous or flammable substances being placed
on the site.
(d)
For systems other than roof-mounted systems, a proposed decommissioning
plan that outlines the anticipated means and cost of removing the
system at the end of its serviceable life or upon its becoming a discontinued
use. The plan shall also identify the financial resources to be set
aside to pay for the decommissioning and removal of the system.
[Amended 9-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-2]
(12)
For roof-mounted systems, the Town Building Inspector/Town Engineer
may also require a structural certificate from a licensed structural
engineer.
E. Miscellaneous.
(1) For solar energy system - primary use, written documentation that
a power purchase agreement with an electric utility has been executed.
(2) A list identifying component materials comprising the solar modules,
panels, arrays or other equipment which contains hazardous or flammable
substances.
(3) The manufacturer's specifications.
[Amended 9-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-2]
The following provisions shall apply to decommissioning of systems
subject to this chapter, other than roof-mounted systems:
A. Decommissioning of the system must occur within one year from either
the end of the system's serviceable life or from the time that the
energy generation from the system becomes a discontinued use. Energy
generation from the system shall be considered a discontinued use
after one year without energy production, unless a plan is developed
and timely submitted to the Town of Pacific outlining the steps and
schedule for returning the system to service.
B. Decommissioning shall consist of the following:
(1) The removal of the system's equipment and the removal of the system's
foundation to a depth of at least three feet. An exemption from this
requirement may be granted by the Town, if it is determined that the
removal of the foundation will significantly increase erosion and/or
significantly disrupt vegetation on the site.
(2) Disposal of all solid and hazardous waste in accordance with local,
state, and federal waste disposal regulations.
(3) The restoration of the surface grade, and soil, the stabilization
of soils and revegetation of the site as necessary to minimize erosion.
In farmland areas, measures to restore the land to productive agricultural
use.
C. A cost estimate shall be provided for the cost of fully implementing
the decommissioning plan prior to the commencement or decommissioning
activities on the site. The cost estimate shall be subject to review
and approval by the Town Engineer. Before beginning any decommissioning
activities, the applicant must submit a performance bond in a form
and amount satisfactory to the Town Attorney, which shall be based
upon an estimate approved by the Town Engineer, assuring the availability
of adequate funds to restore the site to a useful, nonhazardous condition,
in according with the decommissioning plan.
D. The decommissioning shall occur in accordance with the decommissioning
plan approved by the Town or any plan amendment approved by the Town.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meaning given to them in this section. To the extent a term is
used in this chapter is not defined in this section, the term shall
have the meaning given in the County Zoning Ordinance.
FARMLAND SITE
An existing site that includes cropland, a site with more
than 25% open space, or pasture areas.
POWER LINE
An overhead or underground conductor and associated facilities
used for the transmission or distribution of electricity.
POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT
A legally enforceable agreement between two or more persons
where one or more of the signatories agrees to provide electrical
power and one or more of the signatories agrees to purchase the power.
ROOF PITCH
The final exterior slope of a building roof calculated by
the rise over the run, typically but not exclusively expressed in
twelfths, such as 3/12, 9/12, or 12/12.
SOLAR COLLECTOR
A device, structure, or part of a device or structure for
which the primary purpose is to transform solar radiant energy into
thermal, mechanical, chemical, or electrical energy.
SOLAR ENERGY
Radiant energy received from the sun that can be collected
in the form of heat or light by a solar collector.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A set of devices, the primary purpose of which is to collect
solar energy and convert and store it for useful purposes, including
heating and cooling buildings or other energy-using processes, or
to produce generated power by means of any combination of collecting,
transferring, or converting solar energy. This definition also includes
structural design features, the purpose of which is to provide daylight
for interior lighting.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, ACCESSORY USE
A solar energy system that is secondary to the primary use
of the parcel on which it is located and which is directly connected
to or designed to serve the energy needs of the primary use. Excess
power may be sold to a power company.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, GROUND-MOUNTED
A solar collector, or collectors, located on the surface
of the ground. The collector or collectors may or may not be physically
affixed or attached to the ground. Ground-mounted systems include
pole-mounted systems.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, REFLECTING
A solar energy system that employs one or more devices designed
to reflect solar radiation onto a solar collector. This definition
includes systems of mirrors that track and focus sunlight onto collectors
located at a focal point. The collectors may be thermal or photovoltaic.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, ROOF-MOUNTED
A solar collector, or collectors, located on the roof of
a building or structure. The collector or collectors may or may not
be physically affixed or attached to the roof.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, SMALL-SCALE
A roof-mounted solar energy system with a total panel size
of 900 square feet or less and any other solar energy system, other
than a roof-mounted solar energy system, with a total panel size of
600 square feet or less.
[Amended 5-16-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-3]
ZONING ORDINANCE
The Columbia County Zoning Ordinance, regulating the use
of land and water in the county.
Enforcement of this chapter shall be by means of withholding/withdrawing
the permit, impositions of forfeitures, and injunctive action. Forfeitures
shall not be less than $25, nor more than $200, for each day of noncompliance,
together with the costs of prosecution. Further, the Town shall have
all other and further remedies to enforce the terms of this chapter,
as provided by law.
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof
to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, such invalidity
shall not affect the other provisions or applications of this chapter,
which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application,
and to this end, the provisions of this chapter are severable.
This chapter shall be effective upon publication and posting
as provided by law.