Oct 24, 2014 3 min read

Readers’ thoughts on how they would feel about large solar panels in their neighbors’ yards were almost unanimous – they wouldn’t care.

But the ambivalence came in a flood, with nearly 70 readers sharing their thoughts on Facebook and the Observer-Reporter commenting page in five hours.

Mike Jones’ story about the North Strabane Township home powered by solar energy was the most read story all day on Friday. The two panels are each about the size of a two-story garage. Neighbors say the panels are an eyesore and should never have been approved. Supervisors are looking into the case further.

Neighbors said their concerns included increased traffic from people driving to look at the panels, possible dangers to children and declining property values.

But readers claim if the view was outside their window, they wouldn’t care.

Reader Megan Contino said she thinks the complaints are an overreaction.

“If you didn’t want to see into your neighbor’s backyard, you should have moved out into the country. If you don’t like it, don’t look,” she wrote on the O-R Facebook page. “I’d rather see these than a yard full of junk, trash and beat up toys. At least the solar panels are creating something positive.”

Melanie Mazzocco Trainum said she would approve of her neighbors using green energy. Some readers even used the opportunity to get tips on how to get their own solar panels.

Others said people should be free to do whatever they want with their own yard.

“Your property, you can do whatever you want,” wrote Dan White. “America!!!”

But the prevailing sentiment was that the size of the problem did not match the magnitude of the complaints.

“Seriously?” wrote Dan Greene. “If you’re worried about the solar panels that don’t belong to you that sit in a yard that doesn’t belong to you because you have to look at them occasionally, you are officially OUT of real problems.”