Home > Legislative Tracker > Use of Solar Collectors

Energy:
Use of Solar Collectors

Our Position: support
Bill Number: S670
Sponsor:
Legislative Session: 2007

The continued development of renewable energy resources in North Carolina, and integration of those resources with the electric power grid, will depend on many factors.  This legislation acknowledges the benefits of renewable resources and seeks to eliminate just one of the barriers that's preventing some homeowners from taking advantage of money saving, environmentally friendly solar power and solar hot water heating technology.

This bill prevents homeowners associations and local ordinances from establishing rules limiting the ability of property owners to install solar energy devices on detached, single family homes.

As a story in the Raleigh News and Observer attests: "People who want to put solar collectors on their roofs often run afoul of homeowners associations and appearance rules."  This bill reduces that significant hurdle to solar access.

Status

After passage in the Senate, the bill came up for a vote in the House Commerce committee on Sierra Club’s lobby day.  Activists were in attendance when the bill was voted out of committee! The bill passed both chambers overwhelmingly.

Action Needed

Background

At least 10 other states have passed laws to create an "inherent right to solar access."

In North Carolina, the Homebuilders lobby has made similar bills a target in past sessions.  Originally intended to allow unobstructed use of all energy devices, including solar devices and even clotheslines, the bill was cut back to solar collectors only.