America's Energy Madness—We're Banning Solar Panels, But Many Towns Can't Regulate Fracking

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http://www.alternet.org/environment/hypocrisy-energy



When it comes to going green, many environmentally conscious citizens are finding themselves in murky waters, from Texas residents being blocked by homeowner associations from installing solar panels to Colorado residents trying to protect their cities from fracking battles they thought they'd won.

It’s not easy being green, especially when profits are involved.

Just ask Eric Schirmer of Plano, Texas, who wanted to cut electricity costs and help the environment by installing solar panels on his home’s south-facing roof in his Trails of Glenwood subdivision. With the drop in prices of solar panels in recent years, Schirmer was ready to make the investment and sent in his application.

But despite a 2011 Texas law banning homeowners associations from restricting the use of solar power, Schirmer’s request was denied by his HOA. How? A loophole in the law allows developers to prohibit solar panels while a subdivision is still being built.