Kinnelon Considers Regulating Solar Devices
Mayor questions whether borough should allow wind turbines on residents' properties.
As some residents continue to think of ways to live more "green," local government may have more cause to intervene.
Such is the case in Kinnelon, where one Smoke Rise resident's recently installed solar panels on their home have prompted the mayor and council to advise Borough Attorney Mark Madaio to begin drafting an ordinance that would clarify where residents can and cannot place solar panels and wind turbines on their property.
Madaio said many municipalities have considered and adopted "alternative energy ordinances" to address safety concerns associated with placement of solar panels. One concern is that if a home is on fire, solar panels placed on the lawn could impair firefighters' ability to get to the home as easily.
"You don't want people, in my estimation, putting them on the ground," Madaio said of the solar panels.
While drafting the ordinance for the solar panels, Madaio said he felt it would be the appropriate time for the mayor and council to make a decision on whether to allow wind turbines on residents' lawns.
"We do have some lots here that are big enough where people could theoretically put up wind turbines and could put up several of them," Madaio said.
Mayor Bob Collins said he was prompted to inquire about the ordinance after driving through Princeton and noticing a home that had several solar panels on the front lawn. Collins said he understood why some residents would want to have solar panels and wind turbines on their property to generate their own energy, but that the council had to take a stance on what to allow.
"Do we, as a town, want to have windmills all over the place?" he asked.
Councilman Dan O'Dougherty said he considered homes that would have solar panels or wind turbines on the lawns to be "an eyesore." Councilman Gary Moleta said he would not have a problem with allowing solar panels or wind turbines as long as the safety concerns of each were properly regulated.
Moleta also said that if the council does move forward on an ordinance, the borough should get in touch with the Kinnelon Board of Education, which recently approved a solar panel project on the roofs of three district schools.
What do you think? Should local government prohibit residents from having wind turbines and solar panels on their lawns? Participate in our poll and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
NJ Steel
8:24 am on Friday, April 13, 2012
Another example of government interfering with good people trying to do something right.
Tom Ferraro
8:24 am on Friday, April 13, 2012
Certainly this is of interest to me, as a Kinnelon resident with a solar system and the owner of Solar & More. We are the company that installs solar panels on the homes in Smoke Rise, Kinnelon and far beyond. To make a statement saying that "You don't want people, in my estimation, putting them on the ground," concerns me because there are many circumstances, especially in Kinnelon, where ground mounted solar systems would have no bearing on fire safety, or for that matter asthetics. And if a Kinnelon resident wants to "go green" and save thousands of dollars on their electricity, and it doesn't affect safety or their neighbors, the ordinance needs to accomodate that. Each property is different and there shouldn't be a "one size fits all" mentality developing this ordinance. I believe we need to consider the opinions and needs of all Kinnelon residents and keep an open mind when drafting this proposed ordinance. I am willing to donate my time to help the parties involved should they desire to learn about this before the ordinance is complete.
Sunny regards!
Tom Ferraro
President, Solar & More
peanut622
3:37 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
so what is it kinnelon wants more money, gps satellites tell you where the prime spot is for optimal sun not a bunch of guys behind a desk, i am putting panels on my roof which is my property and i dont care what you come up with, at this pace it's taken a year to get a drinking ordinance passed, cant wait to see how long this takes.....act like butler next no ice cream trucks........what a joke
joe james
7:20 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Keep in mind these things can not be turned off. There is always power in them so if your house is on fire, there is a serious issue with firefighter safety. So regulations need to be in place for the safety of those who may be called to save your home.
Andrew
2:22 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Joe this is simply not true, each system installed requires breakers or ac disconnects at the location of the meters. There is also a great initiative to improve fire safety for PV systems by educating firehouses about electrical danger for these systems. Further, inclusion of micro inverters on majority of systems has made direct current changed to alternating current happen at the panel itself, thereby cutting down on dangers of DC arcs, which has admittedly been an issue in the past.
Your concerns are valid, but your information is dated.