I have seen, read, done, and heard a lot of stuff in my middle of the road (age wise speaking) but a story that hit around and a friend sent to me and has even hit on the big services cnn, fox, etc is one that truly can only be done with 2 things in place ... the litigious nature of the US (yes it's a shameful part of our country and if you don't like it ... I'll sue hahaha kidding) and also only in california!

The situation starts with a crazy law saying that someone can not be deprived of their sun or something in legalise to that effect so remember this. Then of course california which has by far the highest percentage of the countries "eco-friendly" minded people. So it's no surprise a cpl would plant red wood trees which can handle california's weather and are sturdy and mighty in both size and ability to survive and provide shade and save energy on heating and cooling. SO far so good right, but remember the law?

Well now technology advances, cali's power infracstructure is going crazy, and solar power becomes more and more attractive, so one neighbor decides to put in solar panels and of course the trees continue to grow (as trees tend to do afterall) and well the shade suddenly is "blocking his sun". No, I'm kidding about this. He takes his other eco friendly neighbors to court to cut down oxygen producing, carbon reducing, trees!!!

Get this though..... HE WINS and the tree hugging neighbors get to make firewood! lol You can not make this stuff up if you tried! So not did he compromise and say oh just cut down the side causing problems NO... cut it all down!

WOW how environmentally conscienous of him! lol

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I really don't see this as big news , and very surprised it even made it on tv . This is local council stuff .

There is a couple that break the law , the neighbour takes them to court and wins . Big deal !!!

Being 'eco-friendly' doesn't give anyone the right to block your neighbours sun or view for that matter .

Personally I wouldn't have taken them to court , instead I'd jump over the neighbour's fence after midnight and cut down the tree myself ( wearing a balaclava of course )

wow...not a single bigoted reference in there anywhere...go on..tell us the punch line...the neighbor in question was black or jewish or arab or something...right?

You should probably do a little research and get your facts straight.

1. Yes there is a law in California that states that trees may not block more than 10% of a neighbors solar panels between the hours of 10am and 2pm. This is the "Solar Shade Control Act", signed into law more than 30 years ago when solar energy was just starting in California. Violators can be fined 1,000 USD per day if they refuse to follow a court order requiring them to remove the trees.

2. This case has been ongoing for 6 years. The end result was that only two of the eight trees were removed.

3. The neighbor with the solar panels spent $70,000.00 USD making his home energy efficient. This was in 2001. Imagine how much it would cost now. Think he has a right to complain? Any resident can get free redwood saplings for planting from the Department of Forestry. So who has more of a financial investment?

3. The State of California offers 3 billion USD in rebates over the next 10 years to home owners and businesses that convert to solar power. Don't you think that the State wants to protect it's investment?

4. There are currently 30,000 homes and businesses in California that are solar powered. These solar powered homes and businesses put out 400 megawatts of electricity annually. That is the equivalent of eight power plants. Don't you think that the cutting down of two redwood trees is worth it?

By the way... It was a criminal action, not a lawsuit. And have you been to Sunnyvale, California where this matter was heard? Most homes do not have property large enough to plant 8 redwood trees. It must have been nothing but a massive wall of trees which would make the redwood trees not so sturdy as the have a shallow based root system. The closer they are together, the less sturdy they are. Ever been in a redwood forest when one has fallen? It's quite unsettling.

...or...thanks to a properly researched response from ILST...you're just a cock.

Who's laughing now?

I'll say one thing on this journal........at least he trys to contribute on TF ith his posts.........not

just for others known as the BKK Mafia

to always have negative remarks and thoughts towards another........

you all know who you are.............

I'm not sure if it's the same case the one I read sited that specific law about blocking someone's sun but since it was more a news of the weird type of thing I'm sure details were left out but it did specify the neighbor took the other to court and the judge ruled in favor of the neighbor with solar panels. This would indicate not a criminal trial, but once again could just be wording. However all that being said if it's the same case... it changes to it can be illegal to grow trees in california but 8 redwoods tall enough to block solar panels is substantial.

Those $70K solar panels cost a lot less now.