At least a dozen states have created regulations to govern solar installations. With a few exceptions, these states have independently addressed solar thermal installations under the plumbing or mechanical trades and PV system installa- tions under the electrical trade rules.
SOLAR ENERG Y INTERNATIONAL
By JAMES DUNLOP, P.E.
The Quali;ed
Solar Installer
40 September/October 2009 SOLAR TODAY solartoday.org
Jim Dunlop is a private consultant, serving the solar
industry in the areas of workforce development and
systems engineering for more than 25 years. Author
of the popular textbook Photovoltaic Systems, he
has conducted hundreds of training programs for
diverse industry stakeholders. From 2006–2008 he
worked for the National Joint Apprenticeship and
Training Committee, developing curriculum on
photovoltaic (PV) systems. Previously he was a principal engineer at the Florida Solar Energy Center for
21 years. He chairs the PV Technical Committee for
the North American Board of Certified Energy
Practitioners. Access jimdunlopsolar.com.
Sustaining an expert workforce depends on
strong local standards and, above all, a properly
trained and credentialed practitioner.
