Structures, equipment, devices or construction techniques used for the production of heat, light, cooling, electricity or other forms of energy on site and which may be attached to or be separate from the principal structure.

A solar energy system that consists of integrating photovoltaic modules into the building structure, such as the roof or the facade and which does not alter the line of the roof.

Solar installations owned collectively through subdivision homeowner associations, condominium associations, "adopt-a-solar panel" programs, or other similar collective arrangements.

For the purposes of this article, an agriculture farm is one that has an average of $10,000 in gross sales and has at least seven acres of land used to produce livestock, or crops for the preceding two years.

A photovoltaic panel or tile that is installed flush to the surface of a roof and which cannot be angled or raised.

A solar energy system that is directly installed in the ground and is not attached or affixed to an existing structure. Pole-mounted solar energy systems shall be considered freestanding or ground-mounted solar energy systems for purposes of this chapter.

As defined by NYSERDA in the model solar energy local law: The effect of reflection of light with intensity sufficient as determined in a commercially reasonable manor to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss of visual performance and visibility in any material respects.

A billing arrangement that allows solar customers to get credit for excess electricity that they generate and deliver back to the public utility grid so that they only pay for their net electricity usage at the end of the month or year.

New York State professional engineer.

The Town's Code Enforcement Officer who is charged with granting permits for the operation of solar systems.

A solar energy system that produces electricity by the use of semiconductor devices, called photovoltaic cells that generate electricity whenever light strikes them.

A person who has skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of solar electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training on the hazards involved. Persons who are on the list of eligible photovoltaic installers maintained by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), or who are certified as a solar installer by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), shall be deemed to be qualified solar installers for the purposes of this definition. Persons who are not on NYSERDA's list of eligible installers or NABCEP's list of certified installers may be deemed to be qualified solar installers if the Town's permit granting authority or such other Town Officer or employee as the Town Board designates determines such persons have had adequate training to determine the degree and extent of the hazard and the protective equipment and job planning necessary to perform the installation safely. Such training shall include the proper use of special precautionary techniques and personal protective equipment, as well as the skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed parts from other parts of electrical equipment and to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts.

A solar power system in which solar panels are mounted on top of the structure of a roof either as a flush-mounted system or as modules fixed to frames which can be tilted toward the south at an optimal angle.

The required minimum distance from the property line to the nearest part of the structure measured at the right angles to the property line within which a freestanding or ground-mounted solar energy system is installed.

Refers to solar photovoltaic systems or solar thermal that produce up to 25 kilowatts (kW) of energy or solar thermal systems which serve the building to which it is attached or one associated on that tax parcel in accordance with §§ 350-116 and 350-117 of this article.

Space open to the sun and clear of overhangs or shade, including the orientation of streets and lots to the sun so as to permit the use of active and/or passive solar energy systems on individual properties.

A solar photovoltaic cell, panel or array, or 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.

An easement recorded pursuant to New York Real Property Law § 335-b, the purpose of which is to secure the right to receive sunlight across real property of another for continued access to sunlight necessary to operate a solar collector.

Solar collectors, controls, energy storage devices, heat pumps, heat exchangers, and other materials, hardware or equipment necessary to the process by which solar radiation is collected, converted into another form or energy, stored protected from unnecessary dissipation and distributed. Solar systems include solar thermal and photovoltaic. A solar energy system does not include any solar energy system of 32 square foot in size or less.

A device for the direct conversion of solar energy into electricity.

A device that stores energy from the sun and makes it available in an electrical form.

Solar energy systems that directly heat water or other liquid using sunlight. The heated liquid is used for such purposes as space heating and cooling, domestic hot water and heating pool water.

Energy generation facility or area of land principally used to convert solar energy to electricity, whether by photovoltaics, concentrating solar thermal devices or various experimental solar technologies with the primary purpose of wholesale or retail sales of electricity.