Hang your clothes out to dry

A bill launched by a small group of citizens and introduced by Rep. Ben Cannon (D-Portland) that would lift prohibitions on clothes lines and solar panels found in many condominium and planned community documents (ie. ByLaws and CC&Rs) passed in the House today.

Developers just toss in restrictions regarding clotheslines and solar panels because they use boilerplate covenants, and then they sell all the units and move on, not realizing how annoying the prohibition is and what a huge pain in the neck it is to change Homeowners Association Bylaws. House Bill 3090A is a simple no-cost measure that will allow tens of thousands of Oregonians to save money and curb greenhouse gases by using the sun and the breeze to dry clothes, heat water, and generate electricity at their own homes.

State Rep. Phil Barnhart (D-central Lane & Linn counties) was instrumental in getting this out of committee and on to the floor of the House. Give him a call and thank him and then contact your state senator to make sure it passes there.

 Email your legislator, or call. The toll-free number for all legislators is 800-332-2313.

 --Allen Hancock, OLCV Lane County Chapter Steering Committee