Subscribe to this blog's feedOn the grounds that it always happens first in the States and then gets exported over here, be very worried about the following.
In California, neighbours have fallen out big time over their attempts to be green and sustainable. One couple had planted eight redwood trees in their Silicon Valley backyard over 12 years. Next door was a family with an electric car and solar panels on the roof.
Unfortunately, when Mark Vargas installed an array of 128 solar panels he realised that next-door’s trees were interfering with his ability to heat and light his family home.
So he found an obscure Californian statute, a 1978 ordinance called the Solar Shade Act. Armed with this he went to his neighbours and asked them to cut down their beloved trees. He offered to pay for this.
They were incensed and referred the issue to their lawyers.
When the case went to court they lost and the judge ordered three trees to be lopped because they obscured more than 10 per cent of the property next door.
The couple have no money to appeal and have reluctantly called in the tree surgeons.
Meanwhile, a local legislator is promoting a bill designed to take the sting out of such disputes. The bill, now introduced to the state senate, would safeguard trees planted before the installation of solar panels from the shadow (and the wrath) of the axe man. Phew!
