Wisconsin law says homeowner associations can’t restrict peoples’ rights to install solar panels on their property. Many do it anyway.
kAm(p&}pztt — u@C 2D =@?8 2D D96 42? C6>6>36C[ $96CC:6 vCF56C H2?E65 E@ AFE D@=2C A2?6=D @? 96C 9@>6]k^Am
kAmx? E96 72== @7 a_a_[ vCF56C 2?5 96C A2CE?6C[ (2J?6 w2CC:D[ 7:?2==J 8@E E96 492?46]k^Am
kAm%96J’5 C646?E=J >@G65 E@ 2 DF35:G:D:@? ?62C (2F?2<66[ 2?5 H9:=6 E96C6 H6C6 :DDF6D H:E9 AFEE:?8 D@=2C A2?6=D @? E96 C@@7[ E96C6 H2D A=6?EJ @7 C@@> :? E96 324< @7 E96:C `]b\24C6 =@E]k^Am
kAmvCF56C D:8?65 2 4@?EC24E H:E9 2? :?DE2==6C 7@C 2? `g\A2?6= DJDE6> E92E H@F=5 DFAA=J 23@FE 92=7 E96 9@>6’D 6=64EC:4:EJ] qFE H96? D96 H6?E E@ 86E 2 A6C>:E 7C@> E96 E@H? @7 (6DEA@CE[ vCF56C D2:5[ D96 H2D E@=5 D96 ?66565 A6C>:DD:@? 7C@> 96C 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@?]k^Am
Solar panels generate electricity at the Westport home of Sherrie Gruder and Wayne Harris, pictured with their dog, Milo. Gruder said she was required to get approval from her homeowners association to install the 18 panels despite a state law stating otherwise.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
kAmvCF56C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6?6C8J@?H:]6IE6?D:@?]H:D4]65F^23@FEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 DFDE2:?23=6 56D:8? 2?5 6?6Ck^2mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6?6C8J@?H:]6IE6?D:@?]H:D4]65F^23@FEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm8J DA64:2=:DEk^2m H:E9 &(\tIE6?D:@?[ <?6H DE2E6 =2H AC@9:3:ED 5665 C6DEC:4E:@?D @? C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J DJDE6>D[ 3FE ?6G6CE96=6DD 2DDF>65 D96 H@F=5 92G6 E@ ;F>A E9C@F89 @?6 >@C6 9@@A]k^Am
kAm“%96 :?DE2==6C D2:5 H6 42?’E >@G6 7@CH2C5 F?=6DD H6 86E 2 A6C>:E 7C@> E96 E@H?[” vCF56C D2:5] “%96 E@H? D2:5 H6 ?665 2AAC@G2= 7C@> E96 w~p]”k^Am
kAmu@C ?62C=J E9C66 564256D[ (:D4@?D:? =2H 92D AC@9:3:E65 5665 C6DEC:4E:@?D E92E AC6G6?E @C “F?5F=J C6DEC:4E” E96 C:89E E@ :?DE2== H:?5 2?5 D@=2C 6?6C8J DJDE6>D @? AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ]k^Am
kAm*6E >@C6 E92? 2 E6?E9 @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52E2]46?DFD]8@G^465D4:^E23=6nBlw@FD:?8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9@>6D :? s2?6 r@F?EJk^2m 2C6 DF3;64E E@ 5665 C6DEC:4E:@?D E92E AC@9:3:E @C =:>:E E96 :?DE2==2E:@? @7 D@=2C A2?6=D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52?64=:>2E624E:@?]@C8^H92E\J@F\42?\5@^!2CE:4:A2E6^w~p\r@G6?2?ED\2?5\$@=2C\:?\s2?6\r@F?EJQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm7:8FC6D 4@>A:=65k^2m 3J E96 4@F?EJ’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52?64=:>2E624E:@?]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm~77:46 @7 t?6C8J 2?5 r=:>2E6 r92?86k^2m] %9@FD2?5D >@C6 C6BF:C6 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@? 2AAC@G2= 7@C 2?J :>AC@G6>6?ED[ H9:49 42? =625 E@ :>A65:>6?ED :7 ?@E @FEC:89E 56?:2=]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 G6CJ 4@>>@? AC@3=6>[” D2:5 qC:2? #@DD[ G:46 AC6D:56?E 7@C C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J H:E9 E96 vC62E !=2:?D x?DE:EFE6] “xE’D @?6 @7 E9@D6 D>2== 32CC:6CD E92E 86E :? E96 H2J H:E9 :?4C62D:?8 7C6BF6?4J]”k^Am
kAm#@DD D2:5 E96 :DDF6 92D 4@>6 FA >@C6 @7E6? :? E96 A2DE 7:G6 J62CD 2D 72==:?8 AC:46D 92G6 AFE D@=2C 6?6C8J H:E9:? C6249 @7 >@C6 9@FD69@=5D[ H9:=6 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@? 3@2C5 >6>36CD >2J ?@E <?@H E96 =2H]k^Am
kAm“%96J ;FDE 2DDF>6 E96J 92G6 2FE9@C:EJ @G6C D@=2C =:<6 E96J H@F=5 2?JE9:?8 6=D6[” #@DD D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?5 E92E 42? 4C62E6 2 49:==:?8 67764E 7@C 9@>6@H?6CD H9@ 2C6 F?2H2C6 @7 E96:C C:89ED @C H9@ D9J 2H2J 7C@> 4@?7C@?E2E:@?[ H9:49 4=62? 6?6C8J 25G@42E6D D2J >2<6D :E 92C5 E@ >62DFC6 E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 AC@3=6>]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :D E96 |:5H6DE] (6’G6 8@E 2 3F?49 @7 C62==J 4@?D4:6?E:@FD A6@A=6 @FE E96C6[” D2:5 z2E9J zF?EK[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 4@F?EJ’D ~77:46 @7 t?6C8J 2?5 r=:>2E6 r92?86] “u@C D@>6 7@=<D E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 E96 6?5 @7 :E]”k^Am
k9bm‘|2EE6C @7 :?E6CAC6E2E:@?’k^9bm
kAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@4D]=68:D]H:D4@?D:?]8@G^`hhb^C6=2E65^24ED^c`cQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm`hhc =2Hk^2m 56D:8?65 E@ >2I:>:K6 6?6C8J 4@?D6CG2E:@? 2?5 E96 FD6 @7 DFDE2:?23=6 6?6C8J D@FC46D DE2E6D :? A2CE[ “2== C6DEC:4E:@?D @? A=2EE65 =2?5 E92E AC6G6?E @C F?5F=J C6DEC:4E E96 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 @A6C2E:@? @7 D@=2C 6?6C8J DJDE6>D … @C 2 H:?5 6?6C8J DJDE6> … 2C6 G@:5]”k^Am
kAm%96 =2H 2AA=:65 E@ 3@E9 ?6H 2?5 6I:DE:?8 4@G6?2?ED[ E9@F89 >@C6 E92? EH@ E9:C5D @7 s2?6 r@F?EJ 4@G6?2?ED H:E9 6IA=:4:E D@=2C C6DEC:4E:@?D H6C6 25@AE65 D:?46 E96 =2H H2D A2DD65]k^Am
kAms2?:6= |:D<6[ 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2DD@4:2E:@?2=6CE]3:K^a_a`^_a^D@=2C\A2?6=D\C6BF6DED\:?DE2==Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2EE@C?6J H:E9 wFD49 q=24<H6==k^2m H9@ C6AC6D6?ED 23@FE g__ 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@?D[ D2JD 2D =@?8 2D E96 D:K6[ =@42E:@? 2?5 2AA62C2?46 2C6 “C62D@?23=6[” 2DD@4:2E:@?D 42?’E =682==J 56?J 2 C6BF6DE[ E9@F89 E96J 42? :>A@D6 4@?5:E:@?D E@ 6?DFC6 E96 DJDE6> :D >2:?E2:?65]k^Am
Sherie Gruder checks the production of her 18 solar panels. A sustainable energy specialist with UW-Extension, Gruder said she had wanted solar panels for decades but didn't have a suitable site until she bought her Westport home in 2020.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
kAm“&?=6DD J@F’G6 8@E 2 =68:E:>2E6 C62D@? E@ @3;64E … J@F 92G6 E@ >2<6 C62D@?23=6 244@>>@52E:@?D[” |:D<6 D2:5] “x7 E96 DJDE6> ?@ =@?86C H@C<D … J@F’G6 8@E E@ C6A=246 :E]”k^Am
kAmqFE #@DD D2:5 E96 H@C5 “F?5F=J” @776CD A=6?EJ @7 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C :>A65:>6?ED] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 2? 2DD@4:2E:@? 3@2C5 >:89E C67FD6 E@ 2==@H D@=2C A2?6=D 724:?8 E96 DEC66E[ 6G6? :7 E92E’D E96 A2CE @7 E96 C@@7 H:E9 E96 36DE 6IA@DFC6]k^Am
kAm“xE’D D@>6H92E 2 >2EE6C @7 :?E6CAC6E2E:@?[” 96 D2:5] “x7 D@>6@?6 H2?ED E@ >2<6 2 >6DD @7 :E E96J 42?]”k^Am
kAmzF?EK D2:5 D96 5:5?’E C62=:K6 E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 AC@3=6> F?E:= D96 962C5 7C@> 2 C62= 6DE2E6 286?E H9@ H2D 92G:?8 EC@F3=6 7:?5:?8 2 56G6=@A>6?E H96C6 96C 4=:6?E 4@F=5 :?DE2== D@=2C A2?6=D]k^Am
kAm%2D<65 H:E9 96=A:?8 E96 4@F?EJ >66E 23@FE g_T @7 :ED 6?6C8J ?665D H:E9 H:?5 2?5 D@=2C 3J E96 6?5 @7 E9:D 564256[ zF?EK 925 2? :?E6C? 5:8 E9C@F89 2== E96 4@G6?2?ED @? 7:=6 H:E9 E96 4@F?EJ’D C68:DE6C @7 5665D]k^Am
kAmxE EFC?65 @FE E96C6 H6C6 >@C6 E92? b_[___ 9@>6D DF3;64E E@ D@>6 568C66 @7 C6DEC:4E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 23@FE `b[___ 4@G6C65 3J 4@G6?2?ED E92E 67764E:G6=J AC@9:3:E D@=2C :?DE2==2E:@?D :? DA:E6 @7 E96 =2H]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C bae DF35:G:D:@?D 92G6 4@G6?2?ED E92E 5@?’E 6IA=:4:E=J 255C6DD D@=2C A2?6=D 3FE C6BF:C6 2AAC@G2= 7@C 2?J EJA6 @7 :>AC@G6>6?ED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^bc`6c54c\f445\d__6\2ccb\_6f56hdeb735Qms2?6 r@F?EJ E@H? DF6D C68F=2E@CD @G6C r2>3C:586 D@=2C A=2?E 2AAC@G2=k^2mk^Am
k9bm‘(6’C6 ;FDE G@=F?E66CD’k^9bm
kAmqFE E96 G@=F?E66CD H9@ D6CG6 @? 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@? 3@2C5D 2C6?’E ?646DD2C:=J 2H2C6 @7 E96 =2H 2?5 5@?’E 2=H2JD 92G6 E96 C6D@FC46D E@ C6D62C49 :E]k^Am
kAm%2>2C2 $@?586C@E9 492:CD 2 4@>>:EE66 :? 96C E@H? @7 qC:DE@= 56G6=@A>6?E ?@CE9 @7 $F? !C2:C:6 E92E @G6CD66D @FE5@@C :>AC@G6>6?ED[ H9:49 42? :?4=F56 76?46D[ A=2J8C@F?5D[ DH:>>:?8 A@@=D 2?5 6G6? =2?5D42A:?8]k^Am
The Kilkenny Farms subdivision of Waunakee is one of hundreds in Dane County where deed covenants require residents to get approval from homeowners associations before installing solar panels, in spite of a state law meant to clear such restrictions.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
kAm“%96 :562 96C6 :D E92E J@F’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ AC@E64E A6@A=6’D AC@A6CEJ G2=F6D[” D96 D2:5] “*@F 5@?’E H2?E E@ =@@< @FE 2E 2 D965 H:E9 A:?< 7=2>:?8@ D:5:?8]”k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 2DD@4:2E:@?’D 2??F2= >66E:?8 =2DE 72==[ $@?586C@E9 D2:5 2 9@>6@H?6C E@=5 E96 3@2C5 96 A=2??65 E@ AFE D@=2C A2?6=D @? 9:D C@@7 2?5 E96 2DD@4:2E:@? 4@F=5?’E DE@A 9:>] $96 925 ?@ :562 H92E 96 H2D E2=<:?8 23@FE]k^Am
kAm“w6 H2D ;FDE C2EE=:?8 DEF77 @77 E@ >6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$@?586C@E9 D2:5 D96 4@?DF=E65 2? 2EE@C?6J H9@ @776C65 E@ AC@G:56 2? @A:?:@?[ 3FE E96 4@DE H2D >@C6 E92? S`[___[ 36J@?5 E96 w~p’D 3F586E]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D ?@E =:<6 2 492>36C @7 4@>>6C46 :7 J@F H:== 7@C w~p 3@2C5 >6>36CD[” $@?586C@E9 D2:5] “(6’C6 ;FDE G@=F?E66CD ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 @FC ?6:893@C9@@5D 2C6 >2:?E2:?65]”k^Am
kAm|:<6 pG6CJ[ H9@ D6CG6D 2D AC6D:56?E @7 2 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@? :? E96 E@H? @7 |:55=6E@?[ D2:5 :E’D 6BF2==J :>A@CE2?E 7@C C6D:56?ED E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 =:>:E2E:@?D @7 E96 2DD@4:2E:@?’D A@H6CD[ 6DA64:2==J :? 42D6D H96? D@>6@?6 @3;64ED E@ 2 ?6:893@C 255:?8 D@=2C A2?6=D]k^Am
kAm“(6 42?’E D2J ?@[ 3FE H6 42? E2=< 23@FE :E 2?5 >2<6 DFC6 :E 4@?7@C>D[” pG6CJ D2:5] “*@F 42?’E 92G6 2 EH@\7@@E @G6C92?8 @? E96 D:56 @7 J@FC 9@FD6] *@F 42?’E 92G6 2 >2DD:G6 D@=2C 2CC2J :? J@FC 324<J2C5 @? E96 =@E =:?6]”k^Am
kAmpG6CJ ?@E6D E92E ?6H 9@>6@H?6CD — 6DA64:2==J :? E@52J’D 9:89=J 4@>A6E:E:G6 >2C<6E — 2C6 @7E6? F?2H2C6 E96J 2C6 DF3;64E E@ 4@G6?2?ED]k^Am
kAm“pD 2?J3@5J H9@’D 3@F89E 2 9@FD6 <?@HD J@F 86E 2 =@E @7 A2A6CH@C< E9C@H? 2E J@F[” 96 D2:5] “(96? A6@A=6 2C6 3FJ:?8 :?E@ E96 ?6:893@C9@@5[ 2C6 E96J 2H2C6 @7 E96 4@G6?2?ED 2?5 C6DEC:4E:@?Dn”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5_72b343\fac2\d5dg\hfad\agc555_77gceQm&?E2AA65 A@E6?E:2=i #@@7E@A D@=2C 4@F=5 >66E a^b @7 (:D4@?D:?VD 6=64EC:4:EJ ?665D[ DEF5J 7:?5Dk^2mk^Am
k9bmt=:>:?2E:?8 32CC:6CDk^9bm
kAm(9:=6 E96 4@F?EJ 42?’E 8:G6 =682= 25G:46[ zF?EK k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52?64=:>2E624E:@?]@C8^H92E\J@F\42?\5@^!2CE:4:A2E6^w~p\r@G6?2?ED\2?5\$@=2C\:?\s2?6\r@F?EJQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD6E FA 2 H63D:E6k^2m H:E9 =:?<D E@ E96 C6=6G2?E DE2EFE6D 2=@?8 H:E9 C6D@FC46D 7C@> G2C:@FD 25G@424J 8C@FAD[ 2 >2A @7 9@>6@H?6C 2DD@4:2E:@?D H:E9 D@=2C C6DEC:4E:@?D 2?5 2 =:?< E@ E96 C68:DE6C @7 5665D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C@5]4@F?EJ@752?6]4@>^A=2E^:?56IQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmA=2E 2C49:G6k^2m[ H96C6 FD6CD 42? D62C49 7@C 4@G6?2?ED]k^Am
Kuntz
STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
kAm$96’D 2=D@ C6>:?5:?8 >F?:4:A2= =6256CD E96J 92G6 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C6G:6H 56G6=@A>6?E 4@G6?2?ED H96? 2AAC@G:?8 ?6H DF35:G:D:@?D]k^Am
kAm“%92E’D H96C6 H6 42? DE@A 5:88:?8 2 566A6C 9@=6[” zF?EK D2:5]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 4@G6?2?ED 2C6 @7E6? :? ?6:893@C9@@5D H96C6 9@>6@H?6CD 42? 277@C5 D@=2C A2?6=D[ zF?EK D2:5 :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ 6=:>:?2E6 F??646DD2CJ 32CC:6CD E@ >66E:?8 8@2=D :? E96 4@F?EJ’D 4=:>2E6 24E:@? A=2?]k^Am
kAm“(6 H2?E E@ 4FE 4@F?EJH:56 6>:DD:@?D :? 92=7 3J a_b_[” zF?EK D2:5] “%92E’D 23@FE >2<:?8 :E 62DJ 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 5@ E96 C:89E E9:?8]”k^Am
Sherrie Gruder says unnecessary red tape delayed installation of solar panels at her Westport home. “I just shook my head and the months went by," Gruder said.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
k9bmx?DE2==2E:@? DE2==65k^9bm
kAm~77:4:2=D H:E9 E96 E@H? @7 (6DEA@CE D2:5 E96J 5@ ?@E C6BF:C6 w~p 2AAC@G2= 2D 2 4@?5:E:@? 7@C :DDF:?8 A6C>:ED[ E9@F89 E96J 5@ C64@>>6?5 2AA=:42?ED 86E 2DD@4:2E:@? D:8?@77 7:CDE]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 ;FDE ECJ:?8 E@ D2G6 E96> >@?6J 2?5 2 DE6A[” D2:5 q@??:6 }2E6C2[ AF3=:4 H@C<D 2?5 FE:=:EJ 2DD:DE2?E] “(6 5@?’E H2?E E@ :DDF6 2 A6C>:E E92E E96J’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ FD6]”k^Am
kAmq67@C6 DF3>:EE:?8 96C A6C>:E 2AA=:42E:@?[ vCF56C D6E FA 2 >66E:?8 H:E9 E96 2DD@4:2E:@? AC6D:56?E[ H9@ D96 D2:5 32=<65 2E E96 ?:?6\7@@E 96:89E] vCF56C A@:?E65 @FE 96C ?6:893@C9@@5 925 324<J2C5 A@@= 9@FD6D[ D=:56D 2?5 32D<6E32== 4@FCED ;FDE 2D E2==]k^Am
kAm“(92E x’> AFEE:?8 FA :D 24EF2==J 8@:?8 E@ 5@ D@>6 8@@5[” D96 D2:5] “w@H :D E9:D 2? :DDF6n”k^Am
kAmtG6?EF2==J[ 27E6C D6?5:?8 E96 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@4D]=68:D]H:D4@?D:?]8@G^DE2EFE6D^DE2EFE6D^abe^G^aha^aQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=:?< E@ E96 DE2EFE6k^2m[ vCF56C 8@E E96 ~z 2?5 96C A6C>:E] qFE 3J E96? E96 8C@F?5 H2D 7C@K6?[ H9:49 >62?E :E E@@< 2?@E96C D:I >@?E9D E@ 86E E96 A2?6=D 9@@<65 FA]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJ3@5J 76=E =:<6 E96C6 2C6 46CE2:? E9:?8D H6 ?665 E@ 92G6[” vCF56C D2:5] “x ;FDE D9@@< >J 9625 2?5 E96 >@?E9D H6?E 3J]”k^Am
k9C ^m
Art of the Everyday: A recap of May in photos from Wisconsin State Journal photographers
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
