An e-mail to the BDN asks:

How is snow kept off solar arrays? Are there built-in heaters?

Bill Behrens of Energyworks LLC, a solar heating business in Liberty, says some people use snow rakes like those used on a roof. But generally, Behrens said, with the panels being made of glass, the snow slides off quickly. He explained that there really isn’t anything for the snow to stick to. “Most people don’t worry about it,” he said.