Solar bill needs teeth

Bill Heldman, Arvada

Published January 12, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Regarding the Jan. 4 article "Measures aim to boost solar energy": That's all fine and good, but if homeowners cannot install solar systems because Homeowners Associations are not willing to let them for fear they'll look terrible (they won't), then this legislation will do no good.

Legislators need to tag a rider to this bill that would force HOAs to accept alternative energy source remodels without the option to challenge them.

• January 12, 2008

  10:16 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  BKindel writes:

  I installed a solar hot water system in greater Boston, of all places. It provided well over half of my domestic hot water needs (even with teenagers in the house) each year. (100% in the summer; 25% in the winter.) It would have done considerably better here in sunny Colorado.

  That said, homeowners (and businesses) need the right to do likewise. They should NOT be unreasonably constrained by HOAs and the like, and they need reasonable access to sunlight, possibly even in the form of solar easements to limit the height of construction or newly planted trees in adjacent areas for the planned life of the installation.

• January 12, 2008

  10:58 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  HolierThanThou writes:

  I propose the following statute:

  If any home owners association (HOA) puts restrictions on any solar energy development within their boundaries then all board members of the HOA plus the residents of the HOA excepting those who want to develop or who presently use solar power shall be liable for the entire energy bill of the effected residences plus treble damages plus treble damages for any fines they may attempt to levy plus attorneys' fees and all court costs. HOA board members shall not be excepted from this liability regardless of whether they have solar power installations on their own homes.

  -----
  That ought to fix' em. Feel free to copy this draft and give it to your state legislators.

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