4.14 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

The purposes of this section is to allow and encourage solar energy systems in conjunction with residential and agricultural uses on a lot, to promote reduced dependence on nonrenewable energy sources, and to design solar energy systems in a manner that minimizes visual impacts on adjacent properties and that are not detrimental to public health, safety, and welfare. 4.14.1 General Design Standards 1. All solar energy systems shall comply with setback requirements in section 5.2 of this ordinance. 2. To the maximum extent feasible, ancillary solar equipment shall be located inside a building or screened from public view. Solar energy system appurtenances shall be screened without compromising the effectiveness of the solar collectors to the extent reasonably feasible. 3. The applicant shall demonstrate that the height, location, setback or base elevation of a solar energy system minimizes potential glare and visual impacts of the system on adjacent properties without compromising the effectiveness of the solar collectors to the extent reasonably feasible. 4. Any solar energy system that has been determined to be unsafe by the Grand County Building Inspector, shall be subject to Section 115 (Unsafe Structures and Equipment) of the International Building Code, which may require the panels or modules and associated equipment to be removed, or the unsafe condition otherwise mitigated if it is determined to be unsafe. If it is determined by the Grand County Building Inspector that the unsafe condition of the panels or modules and/or associated equipment cannot be mitigated, then they shall be promptly removed from the property to a place of safe and legal disposal, after which the site and/or building, as applicable, must be returned to its preexisting condition. 5. All building-mounted or roof-mounted solar energy system permits (routine and nonroutine) shall only be approved for systems that will be mounted on an existing building or in conjunction with an approved building permit for the building on which the system will be mounted. 6. For routine ground-mounted or pole-mounted solar energy system permits, the vertical distance between the highest point of any panel or module (at its maximum design tilt) to finished grade or slab on grade directly below, shall not exceed twelve (12) feet. 7. For routine and nonroutine building-mounted or roof-mounted solar energy system permits, the vertical distance between the highest point of any panel or module (at its maximum design tilt) to the roof directly below, shall not exceed one (1) foot, unless roof pitch is 3:12 or less, in such case up to two (2) feet is permitted. No portion of a solar energy system shall project above the maximum allowed building height of 25 feet as measured on a vertical axis from the highest point of the system to the lower of either 1) the lowest point where the vertical face (or a vertical line extending directly below the vertical face) around the perimeter of the building intersects the Existing Grade or 2) the lowest point where the vertical face (or a vertical line extending directly below the vertical face) around the perimeter of the building intersects the Finished Grade. 8. Applicants must submit approval of an interconnection agreement from the local electric utility company in order to gain Town approval on systems that will be interconnected to the Town’s electrical infrastructure 9. The total combined kilowatts for all routine permitted solar energy systems shall not exceed 10 kilowatts per legally platted lot. 10. Storage facilities that require a building permit to store battery backup and ancillary equipment for a solar energy system (routine and nonroutine), must receive a building permit for the building in which said equipment will be stored before final approval of the solar energy system is granted. 4.14.2 Nonroutine Solar Energy System Permits Applicants may apply for approval of a solar energy system that exceeds the maximum allowed height and kilowatts in section 4.15.1 through a nonroutine solar energy system permit application. The Land Use Authority shall ask applicants to demonstrate that a system taller than twelve (12) feet in height is needed in order to prevent compromising the effectiveness or safety of the solar collectors. Applicants must also demonstrate that a system larger than 10 kilowatts is needed by listing intended uses of the electricity generated from the proposed system. The Planning and Land Use Commission shall act as the Land Use Authority for such applications and shall require a design review of nonroutine solar energy systems in order to minimize visual impacts on adjacent properties and ensure public health, safety and welfare. 1. In reviewing an application, the Land Use Authority shall identify the potential negative effects of the proposed system such as, but not limited to, potential glare and visual impacts on adjacent properties, and may require additional screening, placement and design layout without compromising the effectiveness of the solar collectors to the extent reasonably feasible. 2. The Land Use Authority may require an engineering assessment from the local electric utility company or a Town approved expert to assess the proposed system and its compatibility with the Town’s existing electrical infrastructure to ensure public health, safety and welfare. Based on this assessment, additional requirements may be imposed, and Town approval may be contingent upon the Applicant being responsible for the cost to upgrade the Town’s electrical infrastructure to ensure that it will not compromise the safety, reliability and operability of the Town’s utility infrastructure or place other residents’ electrical equipment at risk. 3. The total combined kilowatts for all permitted solar energy systems shall not exceed 25 kilowatts per legally platted lot. 4. For nonroutine ground-mounted or pole-mounted solar energy system permits, the vertical distance between the highest points of any panel or module (at its maximum design tilt) to finished grade or slab on grade directly below, shall not exceed nineteen (19) feet. 5. The total combined square footage of all ground-mounted or pole-mounted photovoltaic panels or modules shall not exceed 1500 square feet per legally platted lot.