NABCEP Update [RE-wrenches]

[Jeffery Wolfe, Global Resource Options]

Bill,

You're right, we do have different views on this, and I'm not saying bad
installs are not a big problem, especially where there is policy money. (I
don't call it subsidy. It's just like our other energy policy money spent on
other energies.)

Wherever there is government money, there will be waste and fraud. Period.
What other industries do is make positive PR on the good stuff, and clobber
the bad stuff with dis-associating PR. (I'm not saying that's the right way
to act, it's just the way many industries do act.)

I've seen, and been hurt by, closed industries before. Closed in the most
clean, clever, and transparent ways, but carefully closed. (Try getting an
engineering design contract for the city of Chicago if you're not a minority
owned firm. And talk about SHODDY work....)

So, as usual, we need to be vigilant in more than one direction. But we
always need to be vigilant in looking over those who "are here to help us."
Thankfully, Bob-O and Don are embodying that vigilance, and also being open
to us so we can "keep them honest" also.

Gee, that sparks an idea. How about "peer reviewed" installations? (Would
cost some $ to pay the peer reviewer, especially at remote sites, but who
knows the stuff better?) Of course, would need some license to certify the
peer reviewer, to make sure that its not just one bad buddy slapping the
other ones back...

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Brooks [mailto:billb at endecon.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 9:30 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: NABCEP Update [RE-wrenches]



Jeff,

I'm really surprised to hear your take on this. I think I understand some of
your position, but there is another side to the story.

***SNIP***

We've just got to avoid that "very controlled and hard to break
into" scenario for all we're worth. It will kill RE as a major industry
faster than bad installs. Really.

***SNIP***

I think there is a valid concern that it should not be too difficult to get
into the business (I think you'll find that the pendulum is slightly to the
too easy side right now in the NABCEP requirments).

But restrictive entry cannot kill this industry faster than bad installs.
Maybe bad installs are not the most leathal thing to our industry, but
compared to restrictive entry requirements, there is no comparison.

I think you would have a different view of the world if you were doing
business in California. Those that are most vocal for more restrictions are
companies in California that are watching incompetent installers
undercutting their business by cutting corners on their installs.

It also depends on which sector of the market we are talking about. Your
view may be valid for off-grid installs where the market is tight and good
installers are hard to find. But for on-grid stuff where the rebates are
large, bad installs can get big press and potentially affect everybody.

Even Wrenches do bad installs if they are not up to speed on the
application.

Bill.

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