Letters

I was surprised to make front-page news in this paper last week [“Solar Panel Bid Hits Snag in Sag Harbor Historic District,” 27east.com, March 27]. I was not asked to comment. My response:

Subtly adding a few solar panels to one house should not be news. In fact, we should all be doing it routinely.

Sustainability is important. Harnessing the power of the sun and reducing our dependence on the grid is essential. We live in a beautiful, historic village — I certainly wish to keep it that way. But Sag Harbor residents, and everyone else on this planet, must make some changes, otherwise one day we may not have a village that is inhabitable. The historic preservation of the village then would be meaningless.

The aerial rendering of solar panels that was published makes our solar plan seem more dramatic than it actually is. That view only would be visible by airplane and satellites. In reality, the solar panels are barely visible from the street, not directly facing it, and only noticeable in one small spot where you would really need to be looking for them.

My solar plan is not obvious or disruptive to the historic aesthetic. In fact, I believe it fits perfectly with the National Parks Service’s guidelines for meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s “Standards for Rehabilitation,” as a “minimally intrusive installation.”

Concerns were raised about glare. I don’t believe any neighbor could be affected by glare, even if there was any, due to the angle and direction of the roof sections compared with our neighbors’ window locations. Compared with metal roofs, which have been allowed all over the historic district, the solar reflectance of solar panels is substantially lower (2 percent vs. 31 percent for charcoal gray metal). Metal roofs are the problem for glare, not solar panels. Furthermore, neighbors have kindly written letters of support for our plans.

Concerns also were raised about setting a precedent. However, there already is a precedent in the village: 19 Howard Street. The entire roof of this property is Tesla solar roof tiles and is highly visible from the street. Supposedly, this was approved in error. It is certainly a material contravention to the village solar code and an obvious precedent. I think it looks great and blends in well with the historic aesthetic. (I had requested the Tesla solar roof tiles with the Zoning Board of Appeals in May 2022, and I was denied).

The village should improve the wording of the solar code and encourage homeowners to install solar in sensible, nonintrusive locations, striking a balance between sustainability and historic preservation. Both can be achieved.

I urge residents and the boards to support my solar plans. For the planet and our village, it is the right thing to do.

Alastair Hawker

Sag Harbor