[RE-wrenches] State licensing for PV installers in Texas
Jeff Blick
jeff.blick at sunlightsolar.com
Wed Oct 29 15:50:09 PDT 2008
Hi guys,
Oregon has some of the most stringent laws in the country. In order to
become an installer you must first complete a 4000 hour apprenticeship.
This must be done under a currently licensed solar installer, or under a
journeyman or higher electrical license. Currently the state is only
accepting about 2-3 people a year into this apprenticeship, so it is really
difficult to break into installing here.
Believe it or not, for a while I was not even allowed to install rails and
Lfeet on a roof because it was part of an electrical installation. This
one still blows my mind.
As far as commercial goes there is a 25kW limit to the scope of the Solar
license. That means anything above 25kW requires a journey or higher level
license from the state. We are trying hard to get these rules changed, but
the IBEW is fighting too.
My mantra here is this: We are the ones who have been working hard to learn
how to design and install these systems so that they are compliant with NEC,
local UBC, and will operate to our predicted standards. The Electricians
have put little to no time into learning this technology, and as a result I
end up training electricians all the time. So why is that state allowing
people who could have cared less about solar a few years ago to suddenly be
at the forefront of the big money jobs?? It is baffling to me.
I am currently working to change this in Oregon. If any of you are willing,
would you please contact me off-list and let me know what the licensing
requirements are in your state? This would help me show the state of Oregon
that they are taking work away from the most qualified people to install and
design it. If anyone else has any points or arguments to be made against
the way the state of OR currently runs things please help me by contacting
me. THANKS!!!
Jeff Blick
PV installer
Sunlight Solar Inc.
4 NW Franklin
Bend, OR 97701
direct: 541-306-4196
fax: 541-322-1911
jeff.blick at sunlightsolar.com
www.sunlightsolar.com
-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 3:06 PM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 1, Issue 244
Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org
You can reach the person managing the list at
re-wrenches-owner at lists.re-wrenches.org
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of RE-wrenches digest..."
When responding to posts within the Digest, be sure to restore the Subject:
line to the original, and please edit out any extraneous lines from the
quoted message.
Today's Topics:
1. State licensing for PV installers in Texas
(North Texas Renewable Energy Inc)
2. Re: State licensing for PV installers in Texas (Bob Maynard)
3. Re: State licensing for PV installers in Texas
(North Texas Renewable Energy Inc)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:44:37 -0500
From: "North Texas Renewable Energy Inc" <ntrei at earthlink.net>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] State licensing for PV installers in Texas
To: "RE Wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Message-ID: <091b01c93a0f$8ad40140$0202a8c0 at NTREI>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Wrenches
the Texas Dept of Licensing and Regulation has (finally) proposed a Limited
Solar Electric License for installers in Texas. There is currently no "solar
license" in Texas.
Among other fairly arbitrary and borderline ridiculous potential
requirements (IMHO) is a 50 kWDC cap on the size of systems allowed, based
on inverter rated output. Also the license holder may not work on commercial
installations.
Are these typical of the license restrictions in other states?
thanks
Jim Duncan
North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
817.917.0527
ntrei at earthlink.net
www.ntrei.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachme
nts/20081029/4eb79c3f/attachment-0001.htm>
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:50:52 -0500
From: "Bob Maynard" <bob.maynard at grosolar.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] State licensing for PV installers in Texas
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Message-ID:
<43AA04E99F22C24EA51DE62C3B940E38226C1C at 34093-C5-EVS1.exchange.rackspace.com
>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Jim,
In Oregon we have a Limited Renewable Energy Technician license. We are
capped at 25kw and can do residential and commercial. The LRT license
does not allow us to make final AC connections on any system and
requires a site visit from an electrician.
Regards,
Bob Maynard
VP NW Distribution Sales
groSolar What the World Needs. NOW
535 NE Westbrook Way
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Direct: 541.291.4044
TollFree: 800.467.6527 x4044
Fax: 541.476.7480
Mobile: 541.761.1636
groSolar.com <http://www.grosolar.com/>
http://blog.groSolar.com <http://blog.grosolar.com/>
North America's Premier Installer, Distributor and Integrator of Solar
Energy Solutions
Distributor for Evergreen Solar, Suntech Power, SMA, Fronius, PV
Powered, Outback Power, GridPoint, UniRac, Heliodyne SHW and other
premier renewable energy products
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of North
Texas Renewable Energy Inc
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:45 PM
To: RE Wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] State licensing for PV installers in Texas
Wrenches
the Texas Dept of Licensing and Regulation has (finally) proposed a
Limited Solar Electric License for installers in Texas. There is
currently no "solar license" in Texas.
Among other fairly arbitrary and borderline ridiculous potential
requirements (IMHO) is a 50 kWDC cap on the size of systems allowed,
based on inverter rated output. Also the license holder may not work on
commercial installations.
Are these typical of the license restrictions in other states?
thanks
Jim Duncan
North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
817.917.0527
ntrei at earthlink.net
www.ntrei.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachme
nts/20081029/d159cd8e/attachment-0001.htm>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:05:31 -0500
From: "North Texas Renewable Energy Inc" <ntrei at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] State licensing for PV installers in Texas
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Message-ID: <094d01c93a12$75deae40$0202a8c0 at NTREI>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Also to elaborate, The Texas license will restrict any work "on the AC side
of the inverter" by anyone but a State licensed Electrical Contractor. I am
stating, in a reply (to the group working on the language) "since the
inverter AC output is current-limited by design, from a safety perspective
the DC side could be considered as or more dangerous than the AC side."
Is this statement a valid one?
Jim
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Maynard
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 4:50 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] State licensing for PV installers in Texas
Jim,
In Oregon we have a Limited Renewable Energy Technician license. We are
capped at 25kw and can do residential and commercial. The LRT license does
not allow us to make final AC connections on any system and requires a site
visit from an electrician.
Regards,
Bob Maynard
VP NW Distribution Sales
groSolar What the World Needs. NOW
535 NE Westbrook Way
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Direct: 541.291.4044
TollFree: 800.467.6527 x4044
Fax: 541.476.7480
Mobile: 541.761.1636
groSolar.com
http://blog.groSolar.com
North America's Premier Installer, Distributor and Integrator of Solar
Energy Solutions
Distributor for Evergreen Solar, Suntech Power, SMA, Fronius, PV Powered,
Outback Power, GridPoint, UniRac, Heliodyne SHW and other premier renewable
energy products
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of North Texas
Renewable Energy Inc
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:45 PM
To: RE Wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] State licensing for PV installers in Texas
Wrenches
the Texas Dept of Licensing and Regulation has (finally) proposed a
Limited Solar Electric License for installers in Texas. There is currently
no "solar license" in Texas.
Among other fairly arbitrary and borderline ridiculous potential
requirements (IMHO) is a 50 kWDC cap on the size of systems allowed, based
on inverter rated output. Also the license holder may not work on commercial
installations.
Are these typical of the license restrictions in other states?
thanks
Jim Duncan
North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
817.917.0527
ntrei at earthlink.net
www.ntrei.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List-Archive:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachme
nts/20081029/e6eee1b7/attachment.htm>
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List-Archive:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org
End of RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 1, Issue 244
*******************************************
More information about the RE-wrenches
mailing list