20 seconds of fame and solar pannels in Reston

I was myself broadcasting my 20 seconds of fame on the Reston Association's YouTube and Comcast broadcasts today. Or at least recording it. All ten of us candidates will be bunched together in on kind of great big video collage leaving me to wonder if anyone would really watch despite my brilliant summation of my goals and if there was any other way reach the citizens of Reston.

Arriving early I went in to the Design Review offices to kill some time and to inquirer about if there were any restrictions (a stupid thing I know to wonder about in Reston) on putting solar collectors ( I had been wondering about saving the planet from global warming)on the roof.

Well it turns out there were some(why was I not surprised). Reston citizens are restricted to a system with a maximum size of 96 square feet or three panels maximum. I was informed by Covent Case Manager and given a application and advised to check with my own personnel Covenants Advisor . No matter that as I explained that I was merely looking through my Harbor Freight Catalogue.

But get this: while in the men's room and practicing my 20 second speech(well you don't want to get it wrong) I happened to meet a Solar Installer newly transfering from Florida who told me after noticing my regulations stacked on the paper towel rack told me that Federal Law supersedes local Home Owners Associations! Obviously newly arrived from Florida he had no idea of the scope and power of our Reston Association.

Solar Hot water heaters are cost effective while tank less hot water heaters are not he told me, the same as my heating and air conditioning guy told me.

Will Reston Citizens opt to save the planet in compliance of Federal regulations or wisely decide to comply with local Reston Association regulations? Can we save the planet from global warming? Or will our Home Owners Association be able to prevail in regulating our solar collectors so they conform to our own special regulations* here in Reston or will anyone see any of the candidates in order to vote intelligently? Stay tuned to this network.



*I was recently at a Reston Association meeting as a spectator when special counsel informed the board that special state legislation was (yes, yes, yes) being drafted to allow Home Owners to regulate solar collectors so that Home Owners regulations could have some control over there use!