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Posted on 02/20/2008 11:51:48 AM PST by SmithL
Sunnyvale, Calif. (AP) -- In an environmental dispute seemingly scripted for eco-friendly California, a man asked prosecutors to file charges against his neighbors because their towering redwoods blocked sunlight to his backyard solar panels.
But the couple next door insisted they should not have to chop down the trees to accommodate Mark Vargas' energy demands because they planted the redwoods before he installed the solar panels in 2001.
Experts say such clashes could become more common as California promotes renewable energy and solar systems become more popular.
"Five or ten years ago, you wouldn't have seen this case because there weren't that many systems around," said Frank Schiavo, a retired environmental-studies professor at San Jose State University. "I can almost guarantee there are going to be more conflicts."
After more than six years of legal wrangling, a judge recently ordered Richard Treanor and his wife, Carolyn Bissett, to cut down two of their eight redwoods, citing an obscure state law that protects a homeowner's right to sunlight.
The couple does not plan to appeal the ruling because they can no longer afford the legal expenses, but they plan to lobby state lawmakers to change or scrap the law.
The Solar Shade Control Act means that homeowners can "suddenly become a criminal the day a tree grows big enough to shade a solar panel," Treanor said.
The case marks the first time a homeowner has been convicted of violating the law, which was enacted three decades ago, when few homeowners had solar systems.
The law requires homeowners to keep their trees or shrubs from shading more than 10 percent of a neighbor's solar panels between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is strongest. Existing trees that cast shadows when the panels are installed are exempt, but new growth ...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
What a dilemma. I love it.
On the assumption the solar panel prince is a liberal I wonder what ever happened to peace,love and understanding that liberals claim as their own.....
I guess telling this guy to put it where the sun don’t shine would not fly.....
These feuding neighbors already had their thread a couple weeks ago. Are they the only feuding neighbors in the USA?
Number one 21’s century growth industry: Civil Law.
Ecomaniacs, you can knock, but no one is home.
Where is Flora and Fauna to tree sit?
Can somebody explain to me why solar panels can’t be mounted on the upper limbs of tall trees? I’m sure it would cost a few bucks, but taking down two redwoods won’t be cheap either.
I don’t suppose anybody thought of putting the solar panels up a bit higher?
Oops, sorry about the solar panels.
The guy with the solar panels should be willing to move in order to save the trees. Trees are also solar panels. (was that green enough?)
Cutting down trees is an art, not a science. Sometimes they don’t fall where you want them to. Sometimes they kick back and fly clear through walls like a huge redwood battering ram.
Chop down nature’s free, effective air conditioners; in order to get sunlight to solar panels — to power the mechanical air conditioners they’ll need when the trees are gone. What am I missing? Maybe I should have studied post-modern “logic” in university.
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Thx for this update..
amazing, 2 redwoods will bite the deck ,, uhh dust..
I love Utopia,, don;t you?
This is going to be part of my advertising campaign:
"Neighbors' trees blocking your view? No problem. Rent our solar panels if those ugly trees cast a shadow on your property. Once the panels are up, the law says the trees must come down....".
What do you think?
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