By 
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 numerous accounts on social media of solar installations, expected to withstand winds up to 150km/h, being significantly damaged or, in some cases, utterly destroyed by Hurricane Fiona.
In a letter to the editor (yours truly), Theresa van de Pol describes how her father lost his ground mount system during hurricane Fiona—and how, by her account, the company that sold the ground mounts to the installer her father signed with; brushed her off and refused to answer her questions.
Theresa’s letter follows below:
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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 that survived caused a grass fire after power was restored. I feel like no one wants to acknowledge the problem. No one will even say what the rules are for wind rating.
charge solar is the company who sells the ground mounts to nova sun power. I contacted them and got the brush off . They said that they where investigating nova sun power. They refused to answer any of my question in regards to wind rating, or if my racking had been installed correctly. I feel like no one wants to say anything because no one wants to be viewed as anti solar or anti environment.
Another installer from molen said my father’s racking was not braced correctly. Nova sun power denies this and feels he did everything correctly. He puts all the blame on the storm of the century.
11 of the ground mounts where insured so he will be replacing probably with the same racking, and how long before there is another storm. Solar panels can last 25 years. I don’t think we will be so lucky as to not have another hurricane in 25 years.
Theresa van de Pol
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When Should You Write a Letter to the Editor of pvbuzz?
Here at pvbuzz, we always appreciate a chance to connect with our audience.
Anytime you want to help shape public opinion, tell others about your experience with a particular solar company, share your ideas on renewable energy policy, or bring a particular issue to the public’s attention—write to our editor.
Letters to the editor can help kickstart important conversations within the renewable energy community.
Send your letter to: [email protected] with the subject line, “letter to the editor”. Please include permission to publish your story, your name, and any pictures you’ve included with your submission.
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