Lancaster Municipal Code Art. XI Wind Energy Conversion Systems

In view of the rising costs of fossil fuels and thus electricity, the urgent need for alternative energy resources is a vital concern to the residents of the city. Harnessing the wind's energy is becoming an attractive energy alternative. In consideration of public health, safety and welfare, the eventual construction and siting of wind energy conversion systems, hereafter referred to as WECS, shall meet the standards established in this article.

(Prior zoning ord. § 717.010)

These specific standards are applicable for all wind energy conversion systems in zones in which they are allowed, or allowed subject to the granting of a conditional use permit.

(Prior zoning ord. § 717.020)

The following standards shall apply to all wind energy conversion systems:

A. Automatic Overspeed Control. Any WECS shall have an automatic overspeed control which shall be designed to protect the system from sustaining structural failure, such as thrown blades and the overturning or breaking of towers due to an uncontrolled condition brought on by abnormally high winds.

B. Manual Shutdown. The WECS shall have a manually operable method that assures WECS shutdown. Acceptable methods include mechanical or hydraulic brakes or tail-vane deflection systems which turn the rotor out of the wind. (Shutdown is defined to mean a safe condition for WECS which is not its power-producing mode but either protects the WECS from unusual circumstances or protects those working on the machine.)

C. Blade Height. The minimum distance between the ground and any protruding blades utilized on a WECS shall be 15 feet for horizontal axis WECS and 10 feet for any vertical axis WECS as measured to the lowest point of blade travel/motion.

D. Tower Safety. WECS towers and supporting structures shall be designed and constructed in accordance with accepted engineering standards and applicable city building codes and shall be approved by the city engineer as to safety and suitability.

1. Tower heights of not more than 65 feet shall be allowed on parcels between one and 5 acres and tower heights of not more than 80 feet shall be allowed on parcels of 5 acres or more, provided that the application includes evidence that the proposed height does not exceed the height recommended by the manufacturer or distributor of the system.

2. Roof-Mounted WECS. Devices or towers mounted on buildings may require strengthening of the existing structure to bear the additional weight and stress created by the WECS for which a building permit shall be obtained.

3. Ground-Mounted WECS. Ground-mounted WECS shall not be permitted in required front or side yards (setbacks). WECS in rear yards shall not be counted against lot coverage.

E. Tower Access. Climbing access to the ground-mounted WECS tower shall be limited in one of the following ways:

1. By means of a fence or wall not less than 6 feet in height with locking gates enclosing the yard where the tower is located;

2. By means of a fence or wall not less than 6 feet in height with a locking gate around the base of the tower; or

3. By limiting tower climbing apparatus to no lower than 12 feet from the ground for horizontal axis WECS and 10 feet for vertical axis WECS.

F. Decibel levels for the WECS shall not exceed 60 decibels (dBA) as measured at the closest neighboring inhabited dwelling, except during short-term events such as utility outages and severe wind storms.

G. Electro-Magnetic Interference. The WECS shall not cause radio and/or television broadcasting or reception interference to the surrounding area.

H. Setbacks. If the structural design is approved by the city engineer as to the safety and stability, the WECS shall not be erected nearer to any lot line than the tower height.

I. Guy Wires. For towers which require guy wires, anchor points for guy wires shall be located within property lines and not on or across any above ground electric transmission or distribution line.

J. Electrical Safety. The electrical box or any hazardous components of the WECS within ground reach shall be securely locked.

K. Signs. At least one sign shall be posted at the base of the tower warning of electrical shock or high voltage.

(Ord. 804 (part), 2002; Prior zoning ord. § 717.030)

Required conditions of approval for the permit shall include but not be limited to the following:

A. Required permits shall be obtained from building and engineering services prior to installation of the WECS.

B. Every WECS shall be insured for an amount sufficient to protect neighboring property owners in the event of mechanical or structural failures.

C. For utility interconnected WECS, Southern California Edison (SCE) shall be notified in writing of any proposed connection and SCE shall give written approval to such interconnection prior to installation.

D. Documentation shall be provided from the WECS manufacturer or a recognized testing facility indicating that the system will operate safely in Lancaster, California, atmospheric conditions. Suitable documentation attesting to the ability of the WECS to meet the standards of this section will be determined by the city engineer. Documentation considered suitable includes but is not limited to WECS and tower assembly designs bearing the stamp of a California registered civil or mechanical and electrical engineer attesting to the WECS compliance with the standards of this section.

E. Any WECS which ceases to be operable for a period of 60 days shall be removed within 6 months of the date it became inoperable.

F. Any WECS not in compliance with subsection D of this section is subject to a setback from all occupied buildings a distance at least equal to that shown in Figure 1 based on the WECS rotor diameter.

G. Notice of an application for installation of a WECS shall be provided to property owners within 300 feet of the property on which the system is to be located.

H. The system shall comply with all applicable Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including Subpart B (commencing with Section 77.11) of Part 77 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding installations close to airports, and the State Aeronautics Act ((Part 1 (commencing with Section 21001) of Division 9 of the Public Utilities Code)).

I. The application shall include 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.

(Ord. 804 (part), 2002; Prior zoning ord. § 717.040)