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A rooftop can be a power plant or a battleground. In this week’s Take It To The Board episode, we tackle a central question: should homeowners be able to use solar power without running into resistance from their own community associations? Host Donna DiMaggio Berger speaks with Ben Delman of Solar United Neighbors to break down where personal energy freedom bumps up against HOA oversight.

Donna and Ben explore the real factors behind a switch to solar energy—from hardware costs and permitting timelines to interconnection delays, SRECs, and the impact of net metering. If you’ve ever wondered what a typical home can offset via solar energy, how much a solar energy system costs, or how long it takes to recoup the investment, they’ll walk you through the numbers in clear, practical terms.

Donna and Ben are also joined by Dixie Koenemann, a homeowner from Ohio whose HOA pushed back at every step of her rooftop solar installation. She shares her firsthand experience navigating restrictive HOA rules and the strategy she used -- reviewing governing documents, tracking performance impacts, and citing state law-- to challenge vague or burdensome limitations that could have prevented her and her husband from enjoying the benefits of solar energy.

With the federal 30% tax credit ending, the conversation turns to what’s changing, what isn’t, and why local measures like faster permitting and fair interconnection policies are crucial to keeping solar accessible. 

Related Links:

• Podcast: Going Green Saves Some Green — with Nicolas Milo of KW Property Management
• Resource: Solar United Neighbors
• Article: What Can Be Done About Solar Panels?