A RESIDENT whose HOA blocked him from installing solar panels on his home could win following a new law. 

Rick Freiman’s Homeowners Association in Portage, Michigan turned down his 2019 request due to its aesthetics.

Freiman, a climate activist, and his wife Deb have recently had their hopes reinstated following a bill, introduced on September 20, to pass the Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act in the Michigan House, according to KCUR.

This act would block HOA bans on residential solar panels.

Freiman shared his excitement as he added many homes in Michigan are within HOAs.

He said: “I was amazed and excited that this would eliminate a barrier to people who do want to put solar panels on their houses that — and that could not for the reason, same reason as me.”

Freiman initially had a couple of bids from solar contractors in 2019. 

The proposals could have seen 16 or 20 panels on the couple’s home.

Their HOA, Moors of Portage Association, sent them a letter to explain its reason for refusing their plan, according to WMUK.

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The letter said: “We are unable to approve your project as the aesthetics of these solar panels do not compliment the aesthetics of the neighborhood.

“That said, after much review and discussion we are open to alternative options that provide greater aesthetic appeal such as Tesla Solar Shingles.”

Tesla Solar Shingles are solar roof tiles rather than panels. 

At the time the letter was sent, there were no solar shingles for sale in Michigan, Mark Hagerty, the president of the contracting company Michigan Solar Solutions, told WMUK.

The new bill was introduced by Representative Ranjeev Puri and was electronically reproduced on September 26.

This bill has also been referred to the Michigan House Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation. 

Representative Christine Morse of Texas Township, which neighbors Portage, has been a prominent supporter of the new bill. 

She added that this could be a crucial step for the state to reach its green energy targets.

Representative Morse said: “It’s gonna be really difficult to get there if we have HOAs fighting us every step of the way.”

The US Sun has reached out to Moors of Portage Association and Representative Ranjeev Puri.