Solar energy ground mount in Nova Scotia destroyed by Hurricane Fiona. (Provided by Homeowner)
Hurricane Fiona, a destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, recently impacted portions of Eastern Canada and the Caribbean.
It was the strongest tropical cyclone on record to ever hit Canada.
There have been quite a few accounts on social media of solar installations, expected to face up to winds as much as 150km/h, being significantly damaged or, in some cases, utterly destroyed by Hurricane Fiona.
In a letter to our editor, Theresa van de Pol describes how her father lost his ground mount system during hurricane Fiona and the way, by her account, the corporate that sold the bottom mounts to the installer her father signed with; brushed her off and refused to reply her questions.
Theresa’s letter follows below:
—
Hi Sofia
My father lost his ground mount solar during hurricane Fiona.
The installer nova Sun Power has lost 13 ground mounts in pictou county
Plus one which survived caused a grass fire after power was restored. I feel like nobody desires to acknowledge the issue. Nobody will even say what the principles are for wind rating.
charge solar is the corporate who sells the bottom mounts to nova sun power. I contacted them and got the comb off . They said that they where investigating nova sun power. They refused to reply any of my query with reference to wind rating, or if my racking had been installed appropriately. I feel like nobody desires to say anything because nobody desires to be viewed as anti solar or anti environment.
One other installer from molen said my father’s racking was not braced appropriately. Nova sun power denies this and feels he did the whole lot appropriately. He puts all of the blame on the storm of the century.
11 of the bottom mounts where insured so he will likely be replacing probably with the identical racking, and the way long before there may be one other storm. Solar panels can last 25 years. I don’t think we will likely be so lucky as to not have one other hurricane in 25 years.
Theresa van de Pol
—
When Should You Write a Letter to the Editor of pvbuzz?
Here at pvbuzz, we at all times appreciate a probability to attach with our audience.
Anytime you must help shape public opinion, tell others about your experience with a selected solar company, share your ideas on renewable energy policy, or bring a selected issue to the general public’s attention—write to our editor.
Letters to the editor can assist kickstart essential conversations throughout the renewable energy community.
Send your letter to: [email protected] with the topic line, “letter to the editor”. Please include permission to publish your story, your name, and any pictures you’ve included along with your submission.
