City eyes legislation to allow for wind/solar power inside city limits

[The Straight Story]

City eyes legislation


MARIETTA (WV) - As wind and solar energy become more popular around the nation, officials in Marietta are for the first time considering legislation that would allow home and business owners to use the alternative energy within city limits.

A new provision in a city zoning ordinance is being considered by Marietta City Council's zoning and annexation committee.

Committee chairman Jon Grimm said there hasn't been a real demand for the change but that it's important for council to look ahead.

"There hasn't been an outcry but further down the road as technologies improve and energy prices rise, it's going to get more and more popular," he said. "I thought it was something we should get ahead of."

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/547715/City-eyes-legislation.html?nav=5061

[tularetom]

1. Whoa, you have to get permission from the city to install solar equipment?

Where is Marietta, in some time warp iron curtain dictatorship from the '50's?

I'm guessing it's a zoning thing like the laws that prohibit you from having a tall TV antenna or painting your house purple.

But it's still wrong whatever the reason.

And why do they assume that since no such law currently exists, that residents are now forbidden to install solar panels?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Mostly it would be in the form of CC&R and HOA agreements

It would and should require a building permit as well. California has a state law that trumps both CC&Rs and HOAs, but it can still be a fight.

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. "Land of the free"