Solar thieves in Bolinas

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The Marin IJ is running a story about solar panels that were stolen from Star Route Farms in Bolinas.  The loss totals more than $20,000. (I believe the panels are visible immediately to the right of the placemark in the map above.)

Star Route Farms owner Warren Weber thought he was doing the right thing a few years ago when he invested more than $50,000 in a solar energy system.Never did Weber imagine thieves would walk off with 26 of the 33-pound panels.

But that’s exactly what happened between Aug. 16-18 on the Bolinas organic farm when bandits hauled off about $20,000 in solar panels mounted behind the Bolinas-Stinson Elementary School.

“It was an investment, an asset, something we knew would pay for itself in about seven years,” Weber said. “We wanted to cut our energy costs and our footprint as well.” He installed the panels in October 2005.

Star Route Farms produce can be found at the Marin County Farmers’ Market on Sundays and Thursdays at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael and at many local restaurants.