Mentor...
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...a little detail would be great. Just HOW did the city come to feel the need to tell you to remove your pario furniture from your patio?
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I'm a little lost on this one.

Hey, the city here told us that we had to remove our patio furniture from our... patio. I personally think that along with NIMBY there's far too much of NIMNBYE (Not In My Neighbor's Backyard Either!"

Ok,let me rephrase because I sound like an idiot.I met her at the meeting and,although she is a little strange,she needed signatures for a petition.I didnt see any harm in it.Sorry,I will be more prepared if it ever happens again!

angelwings-NEVER sign anything, unless you know what you are signing! As for that woman, unless you support her "issues", I would stay clear of her.

SarahB: The homes are at least 2 miles apart. Sentinel is in the Wuthering Hills Sub. Pontiac is on the West side of the interstate.

http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/9628...

other potential questions raised in this article. Are there technical issues? Does the load have potential impacts on electrical workers and neighbors? Additional reasons to think about changes like this carefully.

bill and nemesis,
who exactly is this "government" you speak of?
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Hint: take a look in the mirror
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Most government rules are legislated on the behest of citizens. There are real reasons for the regulation of land use.
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Let's all imagine a subdivision of backyards full of ineffective solar panels 21' in the air instead of planting a few trees......hmmmmm, aren't trees one of the biggest CO2 gobblers on the planet

You signed something not really knowing what it was?. "Was I wrong?"
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NO you weren't wrong.
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In fact here, please sign this paper for me...my banker will love you for it.

Ok I admit,I dont know anything about this briarmoon person,so what exactly is the problem with her?I signed something of hers at the last council meeting not really knowing what it was. WAs I wrong?

Sarah....LOLOLOL !!!!!!!!!!!! You crack me up!

EvilConservative, you come down on both sides of an issue then congratulate yourself for annoying "the Greenies". That sure is a capsule description of the conservative movement these days.
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Anyway, photovoltaic may not be a major power generation source at the industrial level, but it's one of the few that is available to end-users of the power grid. (Well, Peter Burno had a dam or two ...) It's largely an offsetting source. The payoff is long enough that it is not economical for most home users, true, but it's certainly not something that we should be preventing people from making an ROI evaluation for.

Witsend: Your comment made me laugh outloud and spit out my Diet Coke. Don't do that again!

Does this guy live on the same block as the "free sale" lady, angelwings?

southsider...just how does it restrict what you can plant?
What ordinance limits the height of trees you can plant?
Trees are more ecologically friendly than just about anything else.

The home next door to me has solar panels on the south side of their house. This restricts me as to any trees I can plant or other structures I can build in MY yard!!!!!

I personally hated those big dishes, but they're allowed. I just don't know why all of this needs to be worked out as a policy and that an exception can't be made (with all parties being heard) on a case by case basis. I'd rather have the local government taking into account specific cases than working on a rule that they pretend will fit all situations and all cases. The latter is wasted time.

Here we go again. Government thinks it has the right to control another aspect of our lives.
A little knowledge in an person who has some small amount of authority is a dangerous thing.

Look at the picture from the other article. They say that one is 1/4 the size of what he wants to put up so it is going to be pretty huge to have up in the back yard.

Marcia Nelesen has an article in the Gazette today about the solar panal The article has a picture of Mr. Schuman standing by an existing panel, at 1026 Sentinel Dr.

If they get a solar panel, I want a wind turbine.

Photovoltaic solar pannels are at best ridiculous. Ever seen a electric company using solar power utilize photovoltaic solar pannels, nope, why? Because there are a lot more effecient ways to capture energey from the sun. One promising solution is http://www.nanosolar.com. You have to realize, that once the city opens up a 21ft pole to be put up, some one is going to want more, nothing is even said about the size of the pannel being put on top of that pole. To compare a telephone pole with a massive solar pannel is fairly laughable. After I am sure I have ticked off all the "greenies" at this point, I think the city should let them do it. It's not going to affect anybody's safety, and the person owns the land, so let them put it up. (I just feel that photovoltaic is a waste of money and resources, at least in its current form.)

I wonder if this includes those speed cameras too.

The address of the solar panel application is Sentinel Drive. (Whoever that is.)
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The panels are on a pole so they can rotate, thus getting optimal sunlight and generating as much power as possible. They may also be able to tilt, adjusting with the seasons or even throughout the day. Fixed solar panels can only get optimal sunlight for a few minutes each day. This is what the installation would look like:
http://www.power-fab.com/tpmphotos.htm

Are you freakin kidding me? I can't believe they're making an issue about the size of a stupid shadow! Seriously, how big could it possibly be? Plus, some two story houses, and even those things we call trees, cast shadows upon our neighbor's yards. Guess we better tear 'em all down! I know that solar panels aren't the prettiest things to look at but they do serve a great purpose. I hope these people can put up a 21 foot pole, save some money and do their part to help the environment, and get on with their lives.

Why do the panels have to be on a pole? I was under the impression they went on the roof.

she is a trouble maker that wants to be in the spotlight.

How about one of these in your back yard instead?
http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/

21 ft ...please... I have 2 phone poles in my yard ,,, but does anyone care...OH wait.. It's bringing in electricty (that I have to buy) or cable (I am spending money on) GIVE ME A FRICKEN BREAK!!!! She/he wants to put something up that saves money..oops I am sorry... I said the the "S" word....forgive me for trying to get ahead of the "Money Wolves" during these trying times.. with the economy the way it is ..and every one wants the "GREEN" movement.. Just let it be.. next you are going to want me to take down my 15 (or is it 16) foot flag pole (for sake of not breaking any "ZONING" laws)... IT'S 14.5 FT, I TELL YOU 14.5 FT TALL (Not an inch taller....it's true..I would not lie to the local gov't)

This is just more evidence that the largest impediment to economic expansion, even "green" expansion, is government. You can be sure that someone is thinking "how can we increase revenue" instead of thinking "how can we encourage innovation".

If it go's threw with the solar pole the city will just tax the people for it.

This is exactly the reason why we will never abate any of the energy problems in this country. The NIMBY mentality is appalling. It's a little shocking that the first thought that came into someones head wasn't "Hey good for her." it was "Oh crap that's gonna bring down property values in the surrounding homes because a 21 foot pole isn't aesthetically pleasing." Not only that but how big could this shadow from this pole really be? Doesn't Janesville have an ordinance against the small electric cars as well? I could be wrong but I thought I had read something about that a while back. It almost seems as if the Janesville city council is in bed with the energy companies.

Why can't the city leave this poor woman alone? Ms. Briarmoon must have to look over her shoulder every time she makes a move in this city. Leave her alone already and let her put up her solar panel! At least I assume it is her we are talking about. Why else would the city care? They don't seem to enforce ordinances unless they concern her.

Maybe they could have a trench around it filled with burning oil so that their neighbors could still have light from that.

We won't stand for this sort of thing! What are they thinking solar power, where do they think they live, Madison! Now, back to your beer tent!

I've got a solar/wood heated house, so I'm pro alternative energy, but if they can put up a 21 foot rotating thing-a-ma-bob, then I should be able to erect a 21 foot cell phone tower shaped like a flag pole, and collect the revenue. Then I could save up for solar panels for my roof.

There is one on a pole at the new Basics store. Not very attractive for a residential area.