Man kills neighbor's huge old tree to let in more light on his solar panels

I'd be interested to see the statute on that. Here in the UK there is a right to light which regularly crops up when one neighbour in a property dispute plants a row of quick growing conifers (usually Leylandii) to block the light to that neighbour's house. Usually it ends up in court and the trees get trimmed. The same rule would apply if the neighbour decided to build a 15 metre tall wall.

The same does not apply to existing trees and structures. I think it'd be a nonsense if, in Pennsylvania, you were prevented from having any plants that cast any shade onto a neighbour's property.

A quick internet search shows people trying to advocate for the Solar Rights you mention, but bemoaning the fact that they do not exist, for example:

https://www.solarunitedneighbors.or...ssociations-and-solar-access-in-pennsylvania/

This link lists the rights by state - there are none for PA

http://nesemc.com/resources/policies/by_policy/NESEMC Solar Policy Survey - Rights and Access.pdf

 

OP

Would that be arboricide?