California case -- environmental law trumps property rights

 

A senior fellow with the Competitive Enterprise Institute says the recent enforcement of a 1979 California law regarding solar panels will be a good litmus test for environmental laws.

 

 

The Solar Shade Control Act was recently enforced in a California neighborhood when Richard Treanor was ordered by a judge to cut down two of his eight redwoods or face a $1,000-a-day fine. Treanor had planted the trees about ten years ago, but his neighbor Mark Vargas complained that the rapidly growing trees were throwing too much shade on his solar panels that he installed in 2001. Vargas argues he is trying to cut carbon emissions by having the solar panels, while Treanor argues his redwoods also reduce carbon.
 
Marlo Lewis with the Competitive Enterprise Institute says this case is a good example of the unintended consequences of good intentions. "Here's another unintended consequence," he suggests. "Who is going to want to invest in solar panels if basically your property is really no longer your own? -- that at some point the government can come along and just tell you that you can't ... grow trees or whatever?"
 
Lewis says lawmakers need to ask themselves an important question when considering environmental laws: specifically, does this injure property rights? And if it does, then he says it is probably not a good idea. "That probably is a pretty good litmus test for legislators to use once they pass a law or a policy ...," he says.
 
Lewis says people who think that good intentions equal good results are "sadly mistaken." He also contends that no one will make "environmentally correct investments" if they think their property is insecure.

Thanks kmcheng.  I mentioned the article the other day, but did not remember where I heard of it.  It won't be long until we have to call each other comrad.

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When the UN comes in and takes us over nobody will own property.  They don't believe that any property is owned by anyone.  If you have money or if you are a rich person you better think twice about who you vote into office.  Why because your money will be taken away from you and redistributed to the poor so that everyone is equal.  Think it over people.. The UN is on there way.