NABCEP [RE-wrenches]

Frank Fowler, Crystal Pines Alt. Energy frank at solarenergy-alt.com
Thu Dec 19 10:09:04 PST 2002


I feel the same way about this subject being "blown out of proportion".
There are many intelligent minds (Don & Bob-O on our end) working hard to
see that a "good" certification program be brought into play. Let the
program work, if it will, and if it seems to be getting out of hand then
pull the plug.
SUNcerely,
Frank Fowler
Crystal Pines Alternative Energy
4408 Pine Cluster Ln. Yankee Hill, CA. 95965
530-532-1972
www.solarenergy-alt.com
cpae1 at direcway.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Brooks" <billb at endecon.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 9:29 AM
Subject: RE: NABCEP [RE-wrenches]


> Joel,
>
> This discussion has been blown way out of proportion. The NABCEP board and
> its requirements are very explicate about this being a VOLUNTARY program
and
> in no way supplants state licensing processes. Even though they say this
> over and over again, some people don't get it as in the case with the CEC.
>
> The CEC was "misguided" when they made the statement that they intend to
> make NABCEP certification a requirement. I was very upset that they made
> this statement because I knew full well that all the nay-sayers would
point
> their fingers and say "see, I told you so--it's all a big NABCEP
conspiracy
> to say they are voluntary while they secretly are pushing for
certification
> to be a requirement." Even CalSEIA assumed that NABCEP was involved in
> drafting the language and fired off a terse letter to NABCEP stating the
> CalSEIA position.
>
> This is blown way out of proportion. That is why I said that the CEC
simply
> was misguided--nothing more. The CEC was trying to do the right thing and
> unfortunately hurt the NABCEP process by saying they intended it to be a
> requirement.
>
> Bill.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joel Davidson [mailto:joeldavidson at earthlink.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 10:59 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: NABCEP [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> Dear Bill,
>
> PV is still an emerging technology, yet a lot of education has been and is
> taking place. Millions of hours of on-the-job-training have occurred.
> Thousands
> of people have taken training courses, seminars and classes. I think that
> Article 690 has been reprinted and copied more than any other NEC Article
> ever.
> Every year, thousands of pages are written about PV system design,
> installation,
> testing and maintenance. Sure, there should be more PV education, but
> compares
> well to the electrical, radio and television industries during their early
> years.
>
> If NABCEP is a voluntary certification program for PV installers who wish
to
> distinguish themselves by meeting its requirements, then this discussion
has
> been blown way out of proportion. There are PV practitioners who want to
> take
> tests and have their systems critiqued by peers. Almost every occupation
and
> profession from cooks to utility linemen have tests and contests.
>
> However, NABCEP seems to be more than just a voluntary program and that
has
> a
> lot of people concerned. NABCEP management can end some of the controversy
> by
> simply stating that they do not want NABCEP certification to be a
> requirement
> for installing PV systems or for buydown rebates and incentives.
>
> Joel Davidson
>
> Bill Brooks wrote:
>
> > Joel,
> >
> > So then why is so little education happening. Education is only one of
> > several needed efforts and in no way lessons the need for a competency
> > metric for installers.
> >
> > I calls 'em like I sees 'em. Call "misguided" and "wrong" political
> rhetoric
> > all you want--it's the truth.
> >
> > Bill.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joel Davidson [mailto:joeldavidson at earthlink.net]
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 7:20 PM
> > To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> > Subject: Re: NABCEP liability (Wrenches) [RE-wrenches]
> >
> > Bill,
> >
> > License. Certificate. Call it what you will. CalSEIA opposes any State
> > requirement that PV contractors must be certified by NABCEP or any
> > certification
> > body. The CEC programs are mandated by State law and calling the CEC
> > "misguided"
> > and CalSEIA "wrong" sounds like political rhetoric.
> >
> > Some wrenches recall the first discussions about the PV buydown rebate
> > program.
> > Everyone was concerned that bad PV systems would hurt consumers and the
> > industry
> > kill the rebate. I remember listening over and over about how
Republicans
> > used
> > bad solar water heaters installed by fly-by-night companies as reasons
to
> > kill
> > the 40% federal tax credit that, by the way, Democrats enacted. In the
> end,
> > we
> > all decided that educating consumers, inspectors and installers was the
> > right
> > thing to do. I think we all still agree that education is the right
thing
> to
> > do.
> >
> > Joel Davidson
> > CalSEIA Member
> >
> > Bill Brooks wrote:
> >
> > > Joel,
> > >
> > > That is the desire of the NABCEP board as well. The CEC put the
language
> > in
> > > without consulting either organization. Not political--just misguided.
> > >
> > > CSLB is not a certification body so CalSEIA is wrong there.
> >
>
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