19.050 Small Wind Energy Facility

(Amended 07/28/09; 07/10/12; 09/09/25) A. Applications. In conjunction with the application requirements for a Site Plan, an application for a small wind energy conversion System shall include the following: 1. Evidence that the proposed tower height does not exceed the height recommended by the manufacture or distributor of the system. 2. A line drawing of the electrical components of the system in sufficient detail to allow for a determination that the manner of installation conforms to the National Electric Code. 3. Sufficient information demonstrating that the system will be used primarily to reduce onsite consumption of electricity. 4. Written evidence that the electric utility service provider that serves the proposed site has been informed of the applicant's intent to install an interconnected customer-owned electricity generator, unless the applicant does not plan, and so states in the application, to connect the system to the electricity grid. 5. A visual analysis of the small wind energy facility as installed, which may include a computerized photographic simulation, demonstrating the visual impacts from nearby strategic vantage points. The visual analysis shall also indicate the color treatment of the system's components and any visual screening incorporated into the project that is intended to lessen the system's visual prominence. 6. A decommissioning plan that includes the anticipated life of the small wind energy facility; the estimated decommissioning costs in current dollars; how said estimate was determined; the method of ensuring that funds will be available for decommissioning and restoration; the manner in which the wind energy facility will be decommissioned and the site restored, which shall include removal of all structures and debris to a depth of 3 feet, restoration of the soil, and restoration of vegetation (consistent and compatible with surrounding vegetation). B. Design Standards. All small wind energy systems shall comply with the following standards. 1. A system shall not be located on any front or side yard. All facilities must be located completely within the rear yard, unless an exception is requested and otherwise approved by the Planning Commission. 2. Only one small wind energy system tower per legal lot shall be allowed, unless there are multiple applicants, in which their joint lots shall be treated as one lot for purposes of this Section. 3. Total maximum tower heights are measured as follows: (a) 45 feet or less on parcels less than five acres. (b) 65 feet or less on parcels of five or more acres. (c) The allowed height shall be reduced if necessary to comply with all applicable Federal Aviation Requirements. 4. A small wind energy facility shall be set back at a distance equal to 110% (one hundred ten percent) of the total height of the facility from all inhabited structures on adjacent lots, overhead utility lines, property lines, public roads, and public rights-of way. A consent agreement with the neighboring property owner(s) is an option to allow a small wind energy facility to be located closer to the property line and the installation poses no interference with any public utility or public right of way. When a small wind energy facility is located near a property line, no part of the apparatus shall extend over the property line. A signed letter shall be required from any consenting property owner when using the consent agreement option. Adopted 04/08/08 5. The maximum power output for a small wind energy facility or any other connected renewable energy devices is limited to 15 kW. Non-residential systems may exceed 15 kW upon negotiation with the Lehi Power Director. 6. The system's tower and blades shall be painted or treated a non-reflective, unobtrusive color that blends the system and its components into the surrounding landscape to the greatest extent possible, and incorporate non-reflective surfaces to minimize any visual disruption. 7. The system shall be designed and located in such a manner to minimize adverse visual impacts from public viewing areas (e.g., public parks, roads, trails). To the greatest extent feasible, a small wind energy system: (a) Shall not project above the top of ridgelines. (b) If visible from public viewing areas, shall be screened to the maximum extent feasible by vegetation or other means to minimize potentially significant adverse visual impacts on neighboring residential areas. 8. Exterior lighting on any structure associated with the system shall not be allowed except that which is specifically required by the Federal Aviation Administration. 9. All on-site electrical wires associated with the system shall be installed underground except for "tie-ins" to a public utility company and public utility company transmission poles, towers, and lines. This standard may be modified by the Planning Commission if the project terrain is determined to be unsuitable due to reasons of excessive grading, biological impacts, or similar factors. 10. The system shall be operated such that no disruptive electromagnetic interference is caused. If it has been demonstrated that a system is causing harmful interference, the system operator shall promptly mitigate the harmful interference or cease operation of the system. 11. At least one sign shall be posted on the tower at a height of five feet, warning of electrical shock or high voltage and harm from revolving machinery. 12. No brand names, logo, or advertising shall be placed or painted on the tower, rotor, generator or tail vane where it would be visible from the ground, except that a system or tower's manufacturer's logo may be displayed on a system generator housing in an unobtrusive manner. 13. Towers shall be constructed to provide one of the following means of access control, or other appropriate method of access: (a) Tower-climbing apparatus located no closer than 12 feet from the ground. (b) A locked anti-climb device installed on the tower. (c) A locked, protective fence at least six feet in height that encloses the tower. 14. Anchor points for any guy wires for a system tower shall be located within the property that the system is located on and not on or across any aboveground electric transmission or distribution lines. The point of attachment for the guy wires shall be enclosed by a fence six feet high or sheathed in bright orange or yellow covering from three to eight feet above the ground. 15. The facility shall be designed with an automatic shut-off mechanism, so that in the event of a power outage, the facility will not back-feed into the power grid. 16. All small wind energy system tower structures shall be designed and constructed to be in compliance with pertinent provisions of the International Building Code, National Electric Code, and any other applicable codes. 17. All small wind energy systems shall be equipped with manual and automatic over-speed controls. The conformance of rotor and overspeed control design and fabrication with good engineering practices shall be certified by the manufacture. 18. A small wind energy facility shall be designed, installed, and operated so that noise generated by the system shall not exceed 50 decibels (dBA), except during short-term events including utility outages and severe wind storms, as measured at the closest neighboring dwelling. C. Hybrid Wind and Solar Energy Facility. Solar panels may be attached to a small wind energy Adopted 04/08/08 facility as a hybrid system with compliance to this section. The wind energy element of a hybrid system shall comply with all requirements of a small wind energy facility. The following standards shall apply to solar collectors on a hybrid system: 1. Solar collector devices shall not reflect light into windows of neighboring buildings. 2. The solar collector area shall not exceed 110 square feet unless an exception is requested and otherwise approved by the Planning Commission. 3. Collector frame and all associated conduit or piping shall be painted non-reflective colors that include browns, greens, tans and other earth tones. G. The owner of the facility shall abide by the Lehi Power Net Metering Policy.