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My neighbor’s massive tree is blocking my $35K solar panels — can I demand they cut it down or am I stuck losing money every day?
moneywise ^ | Oct 27, 2024 | Christy Bieber

Posted on 10/27/2024 5:56:01 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?

Asolar power system is a big expense, but if it gets enough sun, it can pay for itself and reduce your carbon footprint in the process. Unfortunately, obstructions can substantially reduce the power your panels provide and make it much harder for your investment to pay off. That's why it can be so frustrating if your neighbors plant a tree in the wrong place.

If there’s a tree in the way of your energy production, it's important to understand what your options are. They may depend on where you live and whether the tree or your panels were there first.

Can you make your neighbor cut down a tree? If your neighbor's tree is stopping the sun from shining on your solar panels, the first big question to ask is whether it was in place before you put the panels up. If so, you can't just force your neighbor to cut down pre-existing vegetation on their land. Ideally this issue is something you or your solar energy technician would anticipate prior to the installation.

However, if your panels were there first, you may have some recourse. Many states and municipalities have rules in place that regulate vegetation to protect solar access.

For example, California's Solar Shade Control Act prohibits someone who owns a property from planting or growing an obstructive tree if solar panels have already been installed and the tree or shrub would cast a shadow over more than 10% of the panels between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Outdoors; Society
KEYWORDS: climatechange; greenenergy; propertyrights; solar; solarenergy
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To: Empire_of_Liberty

One thing that most people don’t realize is that the older they get, the harder it is to maintain systems like solar. My wife and I relocated when I was 60, and we understood that we shouldn’t look for a two story house because mobility can become a problem with age. And it did for my wife. So we dodged a bullet with that one. My understanding is that the solar panels do have to be cleaned at least once a year. If a 70 year old cannot climb up on the roof, then he (or she) has to pay someone to do it. Could be expensive in the future.


61 posted on 10/27/2024 7:19:38 AM PDT by Eli Kopter
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To: V_TWIN

I call him “a rebel without a cause”.


More like “a rebel without a functioning frontal lobe.”


62 posted on 10/27/2024 7:20:38 AM PDT by Cold_Red_Steel
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To: EVO X
I suspect Musk’s solar roofing tile system was born out of this requirement.

Call me unimpressed with Tesla's solar roof tiles. At least with the research I did on solar in 2021 and 2022. Maybe now they're improved enough to provide real throughput.

63 posted on 10/27/2024 7:21:27 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: DrHFrog

A small vertical wind turbine may be a better option.


64 posted on 10/27/2024 7:22:34 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
Literally a one-line lede, buried at the end of some leafy clickbait.

"If it's too late and your neighbor won't move the tree, you'll have to live with the diminished performance — or see if your installers might be able to relocate the panels to a place with more sun exposure."

Hopefully the neighbor tells him where to stuff his solar panels ... now that story will be worth posting ...

65 posted on 10/27/2024 7:24:30 AM PDT by StAnDeliver (TrumpII)
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To: I want the USA back

Installer couldn’t care less. They get paid to put in solar panels, not tell people they won’t do what they’re supposed to. And as far as the dumbass who bought them, trees don’t grow huge overnight. The tree was their first 99.99% probability. If the idiot who bought the solar panels didn’t figure that out, well too bad. That’s what you get for being a virtue signaling moron.


66 posted on 10/27/2024 7:29:36 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
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To: Eli Kopter

I am near 60 and think the way you do. I have a one-story house and am grateful to avoid stairs.

My panels are very small at only 800 Watts, so I can clean the whole thing from one position of a ladder. I thought I was being clever to make the elevation able to change, but that does mean going up on the roof 4 times a year in their current position.

My main impetus to try some solar was as backup power for garage freezers. Now, the freezers can continue to run, even without power, for most of the year. I can run the well-pump for house water, too.

The work is mostly occupational therapy for recent retirement. ;-)


67 posted on 10/27/2024 7:30:06 AM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: ChronicMA

Whatever ChiCom organization did the site survey is responsible for this. Besides the tree is sequestering carbon and is renewable while that solar array will take years if not decades to pay for itself.

In Ruushaa is sayink,

Is tough $#itskies.


68 posted on 10/27/2024 7:46:11 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again," )
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To: Cold_Red_Steel

Yeah, I’ve lived across the street from that nutball for over 20 years.....he never disappoints with his obtuse views on life and the world.

I suspect that comes from being an only child and living off of his mother literally his whole life.


69 posted on 10/27/2024 7:47:13 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: V_TWIN

What is more aesthetically pleasing, a large tree or an array of metallic solar panels? I would consider planting a tree so I would not have to look at a neighbor’s solar panels.


70 posted on 10/27/2024 7:47:50 AM PDT by brookwood (51 Intelligence Agents say Russia Is Trying To Influence The 2024 Election)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Pal you are going to be losing money for the rest of your life unless you find some smart pills. Just out of curiosity and assuming the sun shines 24/7 and there was no tree how long would it take you to recoup your $35K investment? And please include the lost opportunity cost in the calculation. Tou could have bought any one of a number of solid stocks sporting a 4-6% dividend. You may have a bigger house or more energy needs than me but my electric costs are somewhere around $1500 to $1800 a year. It would take decades to recoup that investment if I made it. Stop bitching and virtue signaling the shade from that tree is probably saving you more in cooling costs every year for free than you will ever see from those solar panels.


71 posted on 10/27/2024 7:48:13 AM PDT by your other brother
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To: Tell It Right
Maybe now they're improved enough to provide real throughput.

Interesting comment. I don't remember hearing that the roofing tile solution is less attractive than standard solar panel installations.

72 posted on 10/27/2024 7:49:20 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: Hoboto

The Peter Principle Indicates this solar customer has passed way beyond their competence level an is more than likely a DIE hireling.


73 posted on 10/27/2024 7:52:49 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again," )
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To: Empire_of_Liberty

I purchased a generac generator 10 years ago and it is one of the best decision I ever made. We live in the country and on propane, and we have never been out of electricity for the last 10 years, even during blackouts. The generator powers the whole house. I looked at solar, but the age consideration factored in.


74 posted on 10/27/2024 7:53:06 AM PDT by Eli Kopter
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Tree was there first - sue the installer


75 posted on 10/27/2024 7:55:10 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: Tell It Right

Wow. I’m not disciplined or detailed enough to manage something like that. My solar came with a $43,000 price tag but I got an $11,000 check from the government that the solar company encouraged me to use to pay down the 1.5% loan. I kept the cash. My loan payment is $212 per month.


76 posted on 10/27/2024 7:57:30 AM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: V_TWIN
Every time someone takes down a tree in close proximity to his house he comes outside and watches like he’s at a funeral.

When I was trimming my trees, my wimpy neighbor kept yelling "there goes the rain forest!" So every time I cut a branch, I yelled, even louder, "TIMBER!" He went back inside pretty quickly.

77 posted on 10/27/2024 8:00:00 AM PDT by norcal joe
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

The article is unclear, but the law is actually clear and “does not apply to any of the following:
(a) A tree or shrub planted prior to the installation of a solar collector”


78 posted on 10/27/2024 8:02:37 AM PDT by Wayne07
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Air rights can be very complicated for legal adjudication


79 posted on 10/27/2024 8:05:59 AM PDT by wardaddy (We’re winning but please in swing states vote )
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To: norcal joe

They are proper morons aren’t they?

What they’re too thick to realize is the rest of the world isn’t down with their save the planet BS......Which for the same reasons even if everyone in America drove EVs it wouldn’t move the needle one bit as long as China, Russia, North Korea etc. Couldn’t give 2 shits and pollute as much as possible.


80 posted on 10/27/2024 8:18:07 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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