A few weeks ago, SolarChargeDriving.Com wrote about the case of a Texas homeowner whose HOA was suing him for installing a solar system on his roof.

Well, the Flower Mound of Wellington HOA recently withdrew its lawsuit against the homeowner.

Why?

Public opinion within the HOA itself was overwhelming for solar. A poll conducted by the HOA found that 69% of residents supported allowing individual homeowners to install solar on their roof.

Flower Mound HOA has now crafted an official document regarding the installation of residential solar systems within its jurisdiction. Among other things, the policy dictates that:

• Panels be installed parallel (level) with the roof and installed no more than 6 inches above the existing roof;
• Panels must fit within the roof line (cannot overhang);

The most restrictive and, many solar advocates might say, problematic of the rules is this one:

• Panels restricted to the side and back roof of the house

As it stands now, those Flower Mound homeowners with only front-side roof areas that are efficient for solar  -- south-facing and west-facing roofs are best for solar, east-facing roofs are not great, and north-facing roofs are not at all practical for solar -- are essentially locked out of going solar.

Currently, Texas is one of a dozen U.S. states with no solar easement or solar rights provisions. But that could change soon, thanks in part to the momentum -- and publicity -- this case has generated within the Lone Star State.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, plans to re-introduce legislation restricting homeowner associations from banning solar panels. And Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, who introduced companion legislation, said he thinks it has a good chance of passing in the next legislative session.

"I think the time has come and it's coming," he told The Morning News.

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