City looks at rules on solar panels
Photo
Philip Schuman and the solar panels that he has erected in his east-side backyard. Although the panels are only a couple of months old, Schuman has plans to build an even larger, and more efficient array later this winter.
JANESVILLE — A request for a freestanding solar panel on a residential property has city staff studying how to deal with future requests.
"It's one of those cases where technology is way out ahead of (city) ordinances," said Gale Price of the community development department.
The Schumans at 1036 Sentinel Drive want to erect a panel that will be about 21 feet tall and rotate and tilt with the sun.
But ordinances do not allow detached structures over 14 feet tall on single- and two-family residential properties without a conditional-use permit.
"Without some other clear definition of a solar panel, you really can't call it anything but a detached structure," Price said.
The Schumans' request will go before the zoning board of appeals.
"Without a rule, we feel the zoning board is going to be their best option. I would rather not rush into legislation to correct the issues and potentially make more."
Staff anticipates the city will see an increase in the use of solar technology and will ready a proposed ordinance sometime next year.
"The fact is, we need to allow these from an environmentally-conscience standpoint," Price said. "We need also to prevent impacts on neighbors."
For instance, a panel could shade a neighbor's flower or vegetable garden.
"What happens if somebody's front yard is the best place to put it from a shadow standpoint?" Price said. "That's probably not the best thing from a neighbor's standpoint."
An ordinance also should consider panel placement and setback.
The zoning board of appeals has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The Schumans must pay $200, win or lose.
Staff will handle requests for the panels by referring them to the zoning board of appeals if their overall height exceeds 14 feet until an ordinance is in place.
Philip Schuman said he already has a smaller panel on his property that is about one-fourth of the size of the one wants to put up. He said he's always been interested in solar energy.
Schuman saves $30 to $40 a month in electricity with the smaller panel. His meter runs backward on sunny summer days when all the home's electrical appliances are off.
He buys electricity from Alliant for 11 cents a kilowatt, but they pay him 25 cents a kilowatt for the green energy he produces, Schuman said.
The larger panel costs $35,000, but tax rebates and incentives cut the cost to $20,000. Schuman figures the payback at about 15 years.
"With the stock market the way it is, I might as well put it in (solar energy) and get a check back from (Alliant)," he said.
Schuman hopes his trip to the zoning board will help hurry the city along in writing an ordinance so others don't have to pay $200.
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:33 p.m.
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He's figuring about $110 a month in electricity from the larger unit. That's an interesting investment. He's also lucky that Alliant is actually paying him back - some states including California - the power company doesn't have to pay you credit for feeding the grid with your excess energy. In those areas, people only build enough solar to power themselves and get a $0 electrical bill.
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