Posted on 05/20/2012 7:21:57 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
LARGO — Last summer, Mike Zwalley put a $65,000 solar energy system on his roof. The system — a 30-gallon solar water heater and 44 black panels that convert sunlight into electricity — cut Zwalley's electric bill from $300 to $400 per month to $10 to $20.
About two months after Zwalley installed the system at his waterfront home off Indian Rocks Road, his next-door neighbor planted three cypress trees, each about 10 feet tall, along his property line.
Zwalley, a 58-year-old car salesman, was not happy. He had asked the neighbor, Wade Gibson, not to plant the trees there.
Zwalley found several websites that estimated the trees would grow to between 70 and 100 feet. At that height, they could cast shade on Zwalley's solar panels.
Gibson told Zwalley that he did not think the trees would get that big, but if they did, Gibson would take care of it, according to Zwalley.
That answer wasn't good enough for Zwalley. He called city management. He called state legislators. He called legal experts. They all gave him different forms of the same answer: In Florida, the law is not on your side.
It would be in a few other states, though.
As energy costs continue to rise, legal experts say courts should expect more battles over solar panels and a property owner's rights, or lack thereof, to sunlight.
"We're going to see more and more, and if it's on your rooftop or in your back yard, you're going to be concerned about your neighbor growing trees," said Scott Anders, director of the Energy Policy Initiatives Center in San Diego. "And growing trees is a good thing, right?"
If Zwalley lived in any of the following places,...
(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...
Plus, there's not just interest here, there's the amount of money he'd have to earn to get back the difference in cash.
With taxes climbing all the time he might well make back his investment in 5 years (considering interest rates are near 0).
I’ve got a good neighbor. He didn’t love the big old willow trees in my yard shedding all over the place but he never complained. Xourse after a storm I usually cleaned up the mess they left in his yard first.
He did say that he was thinking about having a party when I cut them down.
Around here, the hail would destroy his mis-investment in a few years.
Individuals are different than businesses ~ there's no depreciation on your owner-occupied dwelling.
Assuming nothing breaks or needs maintenance, it will pay itself off in 167 - 233 months!
Yes, he’s an idiot, but the breakeven point is a whole lot sooner than you think. The US taxpayers are refunding 30% of his cost next April 15. The utility is paying him for contributing to their renewable energy assets in addition to cutting his utility bill - and charging his neighbors more to cover the “solar renewable energy credits”. I don’t know if his state or county gives him something too, but they might. He’ll make out just fine and a whole lot sooner than you think.
Most likely ,by the time the trees actually are shading the panels it won’t matter to Zwalley.
Although I am kind of surprised by the hatred evinced by some for solar and enviromental concerns.
Of course concern for the enviroment once was called “conservation” and had as its goal maximizing human benefits ,both tangible and intangible, while minimizing destruction of the land,plants,and animals.
Yes, but he FEEEEEEELS so goooood about what he has done!!!!
First, when Gibson moved into his home, there wasn't a house with 44 ugly solar panels on it.
About two months after Zwalley installed the system at his waterfront home off Indian Rocks Road, his next-door neighbor planted three cypress trees, each about 10 feet tall, along his property line.
Sounds to me like Mr Gibson planted the trees to block HIS VIEW of Zwalley's property.
Gibson told Zwalley that he did not think the trees would get that big, but if they did, Gibson would take care of it, according to Zwalley.
That answer wasn't good enough for Zwalley.
The correct answer is: Plant more damned MATURE Cypress trees!
How long before he realizes a return on an investment of 65K when his bill was 300 to 400 a month? Can the guy add?
Yeah, my homestead in MN is surrounded by 60' cottonwoods and a woods on one side.
My neighbor on the other side shares the cottonwoods so we share the efforts of clean up.
I have one 5' tree here in GA and life is good when I'm here! : )
In fact Gibson planted the cypress trees to replace shade lost on his driveway and garage after the $65,0000 solar guy cut down his own large oak tree (probably to accommodate and facilitate his “cheap” solar power decision).
Uhhhh....YEAH.
He's a CAR SALESMAN.
Definition
Car salesman: 1. A$$hole
You omitted the prime factor in the new equation. When there is no coal or nuclear power, the comparative advantage will shift.
Meantime ,the self esteem value factor will be adequate to justify the cost differential. To calculate the value of self esteem and mental superiority is not possible. Both have large irrational factors
It will be interesting to see what happens to all these panels during a hurricane.
Only to the property line.
Less then that, far less. When the financial markets settle down, and they will, $65,000 invested modestly in a balanced portfolio will bring about 7-8%. This amounts to about $4700.00 or about $400.00 monthly and he would still have the original invested amount.
Of course there are taxes involved but even so his investment in solar at this time is a poor investment choice given the rapid growth of technology in this area.
Is his name State Farm?
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