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<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Having
worked for many years educating my clients, legislators and other
officials of the value of a NABCEP certification,NABCEP IS important to me.
I have invested many hours working w/ the early supporters,
developing a national certification program which morphed into the NABCEP
program. I also work on various NABCEP committees working to insure
NABCEP,the test & the test questions are relevant AND continue to address
the real world of PV installations I personally find your lack of support for
the NABCEP certification undermining.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>Recently while developing new test questions for <EM><U>both on &
off grid applications</U></EM>, myself & the installers working w/
NABCEP, the testing lab & some other HIGHLY qualified individuals got
into a row about how tough we were making the entry level questions. "This isn't
what those kids will know". The installers argued that NABCEP is the best
benchmark & the test was a method of helping our industry weed out
those people that want a easy transition into our/your solar world. We were
finally able to convince the dissenters that the tough questions WERE the right
way to go.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I
think that many folks see the NABCEP program "a way in",the actual certification
test is NOT an easy.</FONT></SPAN></DIV></SPAN></DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>It is
true that NOTHING will prevent some low balling jerk (NABCEP certified or
not) from getting the job. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>There
are those of us who see the value in the certification, while the St. of Maine
sees it (the NABCEP test) as too tough a test so what did they do? They have
developed one of their own tests,something that allows very poor quality
of work to be accepted for rebate funds, (some of it performed by IBEW &
licensed electricians). Speaking of IBEW, how about the installation done in
Dorchester, Ma., do you mount your arrays vertically?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial> Yeah I loose jobs too, because I charge a competitive
rate,install a quality a product,value my insurance, both health &
liability.I also value my reputation as someone that is
considered "one of the better installers" in the state where I live &
work!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>There
are many of us that have worked to improve the value of the NABCEP program,
you may have seen my personal attack & praise of the NABCEP
program.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I find
presently that the increasing awareness of the NABCEP program comforting,BUT, I
too find the lack of support from the industry & some States
frustrating.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>Certification is NOT for everyone, its expensive & time consuming
but w/ continued interest from folks that may be on the fence & the
continuing hard work marketing the certification program "as the one to
have", we will continue to see the quality minded customer looking for that
NABCEP certification.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Please
review some of the questions on the test, perhaps one of these days you too will
see the value of NABCEP & become one of the proud, frustrated NABCEP
certificate holders.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Were
you also someone that said that computers were too costly and a waste of
time?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>OK
I've gotta go & saddle bend up my horse & ride off to turkey
land.......</FONT></SPAN></DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437593714-25112009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV align=left> <A
href="mailto:Tump@swnl.net"><STRONG>Tump@swnl.net</STRONG></A><FONT
face=Arial> <SPAN class=597035700-05092007><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <FONT
color=#0000ff><U><A
href="http://www.swnl.net/"><STRONG>www.SWNL.net</STRONG></A></U></FONT></FONT></SPAN></FONT><BR> <FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=597035700-05092007> </SPAN><SPAN
class=597035700-05092007><FONT size=5>Solarwinds
Northernlights</FONT></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><STRONG><EM> Serving Mid Coast Maine & Northern
California<BR> Me.# 207-832-7574 Cl.#
610-517-8401</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV
align=left><EM><STRONG>
<FONT color=#0000ff>Blair "TUMP" May</FONT></STRONG></EM></DIV>
<DIV align=left><STRONG><EM> ********
MAINE'S CHARTER ********<BR> <FONT
color=#008000> <U>
NABCEP "Certified PV
Installer"</U></FONT></EM></STRONG><STRONG><EM><U> <BR></U>
<BR> ******** MAINE'S CHARTER
********<BR> </EM></STRONG><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008000><U>Trace
Xantrex "Certified" Dealer / Installer"<BR></U></FONT>
</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left><STRONG><EM> </EM></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>William
Miller<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:48 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
RE-wrenches<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Nabcep - grid tie---Off
grid<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=3>Friends:<BR><BR>I'd like to make two
brief points on the training/NABCEP debate:<BR><BR>1. If I thought NABCEP
certification would get me one more job I'd normally lose to a low-ball
bidder, I'd be inclined to sit for the test, but it won't.<BR><BR>2. Most
solar electric installers could not be considered electricians. Until
they learn the trade, they are not qualified to install the most basic grid
tie system. Conversely, many electricians with the most basic electrical
skills think they know all that needs to be known to design and install
solar-electric. Wrong again.<BR><BR>I don't support the IBEW concept of
taking over the solar industry by force, but I do respect their concept of
actually encouraging well rounded electrician's skills. How many solar
installers can actually lay an offset into a stick of EMT? Not
many. Most are glorified stereo installers, plugging and
praying.<BR><BR>Respectfully,<BR><BR>William
Miller<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>