66.031(3)
(3) Allows for an alternative system of comparable cost and efficiency.
66.032
66.032
Solar and wind access permits. 66.032(1)(a)
(a) "Agency" means the governing body of a municipality which has provided for granting a permit or the agency which the governing body of a municipality creates or designates under
sub. (2). "Agency" includes an officer or employe of the municipality.
66.032(1)(b)
(b) "Applicant" means an owner applying for a permit under this section.
66.032(1)(c)
(c) "Application" means an application for a permit under this section.
66.032(1)(d)
(d) "Collector surface" means any part of a solar collector that absorbs solar energy for use in the collector's energy transformation process. "Collector surface" does not include frames, supports and mounting hardware.
66.032(1)(e)
(e) "Collector use period" means 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time daily.
66.032(1)(f)
(f) "Impermissible interference" means the blockage of wind from a wind energy system or solar energy from a collector surface or proposed collector surface for which a permit has been granted under this section during a collector use period if such blockage is by any structure or vegetation on property, an owner of which was notified under
sub. (3) (b). "Impermissible interference" does not include:
66.032(1)(f)1.
1. Blockage by a narrow protrusion, including but not limited to a pole or wire, which does not substantially interfere with absorption of solar energy by a solar collector or does not substantially block wind from a wind energy system.
66.032(1)(f)2.
2. Blockage by any structure constructed, under construction or for which a building permit has been applied for before the date the last notice is mailed or delivered under
sub. (3) (b).
66.032(1)(f)3.
3. Blockage by any vegetation planted before the date the last notice is mailed or delivered under
sub. (3) (b) unless a municipality by ordinance under
sub. (2) defines impermissible interference to include such vegetation.
66.032(1)(g)
(g) "Municipality" means any county with a zoning ordinance under
s. 59.69, any town with a zoning ordinance under
s. 60.61, any city with a zoning ordinance under
s. 62.23 (7), any 1st class city or any village with a zoning ordinance under
s. 61.35.
66.032(1)(h)
(h) "Owner" means at least one owner, as defined under
s. 66.021 (1) (b), of a property or the personal representative of at least one owner.
66.032(1)(i)
(i) "Permit" means a solar access permit or a wind access permit issued under this section.
66.032(1)(j)
(j) "Solar collector" means a device, structure or a part of a device or structure a substantial purpose of which is to transform solar energy into thermal, mechanical, chemical or electrical energy.
66.032(1)(k)
(k) "Solar energy" means direct radiant energy received from the sun.
66.032(1)(L)
(L) "Standard time" means the solar time of the ninetieth meridian west of Greenwich.
66.032(1)(m)
(m) "Wind energy system" means equipment that converts and then stores or transfers energy from the wind into usable forms of energy.
66.032(2)
(2) Permit procedure. The governing body of every municipality may provide for granting a permit. A permit may not affect any land except land which, at the time the permit is granted, is within the territorial limits of the municipality or is subject to an extraterritorial zoning ordinance adopted under
s. 62.23 (7a), except that a permit issued by a city or village may not affect extraterritorial land subject to a zoning ordinance adopted by a county or a town. The governing body may appoint itself as the agency to process applications or may create or designate another agency to grant permits. The governing body may provide by ordinance that a fee be charged to cover the costs of processing applications. The governing body may adopt an ordinance with any provision it deems necessary for granting a permit under this section, including but not limited to:
66.032(2)(b)
(b) Defining an impermissible interference to include vegetation planted before the date the last notice is mailed or delivered under
sub. (3) (b), provided that the permit holder shall be responsible for the cost of trimming such vegetation.
66.032(3)(a)(a) In a municipality which provides for granting a permit under this section, an owner who has installed or intends to install a solar collector or wind energy system may apply to an agency for a permit.
66.032(3)(b)
(b) An agency shall determine if an application is satisfactorily completed and shall notify the applicant of its determination. If an applicant receives notice that an application has been satisfactorily completed, the applicant shall deliver by certified mail or by hand a notice to the owner of any property which the applicant proposes to be restricted by the permit under
sub. (7). The applicant shall submit to the agency a copy of a signed receipt for every notice delivered under this paragraph. The agency shall supply the notice form. The information on the form may include, without limitation because of enumeration:
66.032(3)(b)1.
1. The name and address of the applicant, and the address of the land upon which the solar collector or wind energy system is or will be located.
66.032(3)(b)2.
2. That an application has been filed by the applicant.
66.032(3)(b)3.
3. That the permit, if granted, may affect the rights of the notified owner to develop his or her property and to plant vegetation.