Trees vs. Solar

Trees scored the latest victory in a years-long feud between Silicon Valley neighbors. On Tuesday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill that allows trees to shade solar panels without penalty, as long as the trees were planted before the panels were installed. The bill was created in reaction to a December court ruling that Richard Treanor and Carolynn Bissett had violated the "Solar Shade Control Act" by refusing to cut or trim the redwood trees that were shading the solar panels their neighbor, Mark Vargas, had installed on his roof and on a backyard trellis.

Feeling torn between two green choices? Go ahead and support both sides, like State Senator Joe Simitian, who said, "I was frustrated by the tone of the debate at the outset--that it was somehow about trees versus solar. I thought it should be about trees and solar."

Shade Trees cut heating and cooling bills, reduce CO2 emissions, and decrease storm runoff. If you live in California, you can get a free tree through the Cool Communities Shade Tree Program. Free Trees and Plants, based in Nebraska, delivers salvaged nursery trees and plants for the price of shipping.

Solar panels create clean energy and reduce reliance on dirtier energy sources, such as coal-fired power plants. Find out how you can get a tax credit for solar water heaters and solar panels installed between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008.

Sources:  Mercury News, The New York Times, Grist, EPA, Energy Star

Comments

[myearth]

Well, let's not get carried away. Only one of the trees on the free list is native to SOCAL. Shouldn't a tiny bit of thought be given to the implications of that. Some are listed as allergenic. So let's not just slap trees all over the place because it sounds good. Let's put them where they belong and will grow well. And in SOCAL, one has to think carefully about placing anything too close to one's home, with trees being the most risky. Even when they aren't highly flammable, they are fuel. And then there's water. They need to be very drought tolerant with our changing climate. Things aren't so simple are they? If you are in SOCAL, I vote for native oaks which do very well in fires, provide good habitat and don't need a lot of water. Why not do the right thing not just something???