The purpose of this chapter shall be to adopt statutory requirements
to advance and protect the public health, safety and welfare of citizens
of the Town of Catskill, New York; to take advantage of safe, abundant,
renewable and nonpolluting energy resources; to decrease the cost
of energy to the owners of commercial and residential properties;
and to increase employment and business development in the region
by furthering the installation of solar energy systems.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to Town Law §§ 261
through 263 and § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law to adopt
zoning provisions that advance and protect the health, safety and
welfare of the community and to make provision for, so far as conditions
may permit, the accommodation of solar energy systems and equipment
and access to sunlight necessary therefor.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A structure, the use of which is customarily incidental and
subordinate to that of the principal building and is attached thereto
or is located on the same lot or premises as the principal building.
BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM
A combination of photovoltaic building components integrated
into any building envelope system such as vertical facades, including
glass and other facade material, semitransparent skylight systems,
roofing materials and shading over windows.
GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A solar energy system which is anchored to the ground and
attached to a pole or other mounting system, detached from any other
structure, with or without tracking for the primary purpose of producing
electricity for on-site consumption.
LARGE-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A solar energy system which produces a rated power of 20
kilowatts (kW) or greater per hour of energy for the purpose of producing
electricity for on-site and off-site sale or consumption.
SMALL-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A solar panel system for the purpose of producing electricity
for on-site or off-site consumption which produces a rated power of
under 20 kilowatts (kW) per hour of energy.
SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTOR
A solar photovoltaic cell, panel, array, solar hot air or
water collector device which relies upon solar radiation as an energy
source for the generation of electricity or transfer of stored heat.
SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT
Electrical energy storage devices, material, hardware, inverters
or other electrical equipment and conduit of photovoltaic devices
associated with the production of electrical energy.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
An electrical generating system composed of a combination
of both solar panels and solar energy equipment.
SOLAR PANEL
A photovoltaic device capable of collecting and converting
solar energy into electrical energy.
SOLAR-THERMAL SYSTEM
Solar thermal systems which directly heat water or other
liquid using sunlight.
Residential solar energy systems and solar thermal systems which produce 20 kilowatts (KW) per hour of energy or more do not need to comply with the performance guarantee requirements of §
134A-9C(6).
Solar energy systems are considered abandoned after 90 days
without electrical energy generation and must be removed from the
property. Applications for extensions are reviewed by the Town of
Catskill Code Enforcement Office for a period of 30 days.
Any violation of this Solar Energy Use Law shall be subject
to the same civil and criminal penalties provided for in the zoning
regulations of the Town of Catskill.