[MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

[Fletcher, Susan]

Danvers would be interested in any responses as well.

Susan Fletcher
Assistant Director
Department of Planning and Human Services
978.777.0001 x3027
sfletcher at mail.danvers-ma.org

-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Roseanne Saalfield
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 10:36 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

A veritable blizzard of solar panels are about to descend on the roofs of Harvard.  I hope to have a focused conversation about this important topic at our meeting next week but would love input from other towns that have already addressed this issue.

Frankly, I cannot see how historic district commissions can exert any control over panels visible from a public way given that we do not involve ourselves in questions relating to storm windows or electric meters. Much as I personally find the panels often quite ugly (though I support the effort to find sustainable energy sources) and will not put them on the perfectly oriented south facing roof of my antique farmhouse(outside of the district) I don't know whether we have standing in this issue at all.  Engineering trumps all in this case, I feel.

But I seek to learn ...

thanks
Roseanne Saalfield
Chair
Town Of Harvard
Historic Commission
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