SHERIDAN — The installation and placement of solar energy systems and equipment in the town of Sheridan will now be regulated.

At a recent town board meeting, councilmen voted to approve Local Law No. 2 of 2017, which establishes guidelines for how solar equipment, panels, storage batteries, etc. must be installed.

Section One of the law reads “The town board of the town of Sheridan, exercising the authority granted to it … to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and property owners of the town of Sheridan, does hereby desire to enact this local law to regulate the construction, maintenance, and placement of solar energy systems in the town of Sheridan.”

The purpose of these rules, the law explains, is to “balance the potential impact on neighbors when solar collectors may be installed near their property, while preserving the rights of the property owners to install solar collection systems without excess regulation.” In other words, the town board wanted to balance the “pros” for the energy system owners against the “cons” for neighbors. And, similar to wind energy systems going up in the region, there are rules about how far back from a property line the solar energy equipment must be placed; how tall the equipment may be; and which direction solar panels should face.

There are different guidelines for residential systems (those meant to power one household) and commercial systems (those meant to power a business, such as a farm, or for making money on the energy created. These are referred to in Local Law No. 2 as “Small-Scale Solar Energy Systems” and “Large-Scale Solar Energy Systems.”

Different guidelines also apply for roof-mounted systems vs. ground-mounted systems.

All small-scale site plans must be approved by the town’s planning board, for example. Applications must be submitted containing this information (Section 4C). Large-scale solar systems need special-use permits, and are only allowed in certain zoning districts — south of the CSX Railroad tracks in “Agriculture/Residential No. 2,” the “Industrial Zone” and the “Business Zone.” There are also height and setback requirements, as well as fencing requirements, mandatory warning signs and more. A decommissioning plan is also required, in addition to other provisions.

The law is now in effect, and any resident who is interested in installing solar energy systems on their property or at his or her place of business within the town is encouraged to pick up a copy of the law’s complete language at the town clerk’s office. Questions may be directed to Jim Crowell, code enforcement officer. Residents should note that the town clerk’s office will be closed July 3-4, and will have abbreviated hours from July 5-7 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Normal hours resume July 10 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

The next Sheridan Town Board meeting is set for July 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center.