Solar Panels Fire At 7 Walmarts

[calendria]

 
 


Walmart sues Tesla over fires linked to rooftop solar panel systems

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walmart-sues-tesla-over-fires-linked-to-rooftop-solar-panel-systems/ar-AAG4PYi?pfr=1

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/08/20/walmart-sues-tesla-over-fires-seven-stores/2066251001/

The retailer said it had leased or licensed roof space on top of more than 240 stores to Tesla’s energy operations unit, formerly known as SolarCity, for the installation and operation of solar systems. But as of November, fires had broken out at no fewer than seven of the stores, forcing the disconnection of all the solar panel systems for the safety of the public.
Many of the Tesla panels had defects that could be seen by the naked eye or were easily identifiable with proper equipment, Walmart said, indicating that Tesla had deficient inspection procedures or hadn’t been inspecting the sites at all. The retailer’s inspectors saw dangerous connections, including loose and hanging wires at several locations, according to the complaint.
“Many of the problems stemmed from a rushed, negligent approach to the systems’ installation,” Walmart said in the complaint.
Tesla didn’t immediately address the retailer’s complaint.
In the lawsuit filed Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court, Walmart says fires broke out at "no fewer than seven" stores between 2012 and 2018 and caused millions of dollars in damage. One store in Ohio had to be closed for eight days.  Walmart says it demanded on May 31, 2018, that Tesla disconnect or de-energize all of the solar panel systems. A fire happened in Yuba City, California, after the solar panels had been de-energized, the suit claims.
A Sam's Club store owned by Walmart experienced a power outage in January 2017, forcing the store to close, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit was filed two days after Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced in a series of tweets Sunday that Tesla is trying to spark its solar-panel business by letting consumers rent rooftop systems rather than buy them.
Tesla bought residential solar installer SolarCity for $2.6 billion in 2016, but installations have plunged in recent quarters. Tesla stopped selling systems in Home Depot stores

[lightningclix]

Yikes!

[killers2]

Wow that's a crazy story.  That lawsuit shouldn't hurt Elon Musk's wallet too bad though! 

[calendria]

 

Yes your right!  It's not about the money though, why didn't this get publicized? I mean really, from 2012?? Never heard about this!

[Mlk2332]

Solar City used to advertise pretty heavily here in the Bay Area. I find it alarming that if there is a fire problem with their product, the attention received seemingly is limited to big companies like Walmart when they preached themselves as a affordable alternative to PG&E like power companies. Really, I am hoping this isn't a trend extendy to the more residential locations that have invested in the solar panels they provide.