Solar Water Heat

Solar Contractor Licensing

Nevada law requires that solar energy system installers be licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board. Contractors may be licensed under License Classification C-37 (solar contracting for solar water heating and space heating and air conditioning). Contractors may also perform solar work under License Classification C-1* (plumbing and heating), sub-classification (d) for solar water heating installations, or sub-classification (f) for solar air heating. Contractors may also perform solar work under License C-2 (electrical contracting), sub-classification (g) for photovoltaics used to generate electricity; or C-21 (Refrigeration and air-conditioning), sub-classification (e) for solar air conditioning. Work on utility scale solar projects must

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Solar Contractor Licensing

Hawaii offers several specialty licenses for solar contractors through Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The following specialty licenses are available: Solar Power Systems Contractor (C-60); Solar Energy Systems Contractor (C-61); Solar Hot Water Systems Contractor (C-61a); and Solar Heating and Cooling Systems Contractor (C-61b). These licenses require business and trade exams plus four years of experience. An Electrical Contractor (C-13) license is required to install photovoltaic systems other than low voltage DC wiring and it includes the work of the C-60 solar power systems contractor. Plumbing contractors (C-37) are also allowed to install solar hot water heating systems.

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City of Boulder - Green Points Building Program

Residential

The Boulder Green Points Building Program is a mandatory residential green building program that requires a builder or homeowner to include a minimum amount of sustainable building components based on the size of the proposed structure. Similar to the US Green Building Council's LEED program, the Boulder Green Points program awards points for a menu of sustainable building practices. Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are among the optional components a builder can use to earn points.

New construction projects also must show energy efficiency compliance through the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). The required HERS index varies according

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Solar Contractor Licensing

The California Contractors State License Board administers contractor licenses. The C-46 Solar Contractor license covers active solar water and space heating systems, solar pool heating systems, and photovoltaic systems. C-46 requirements include four years of experience and passing the business and law exam and the trade exam. Independent license schools offer courses to prepare for license exams.

Other contractor licenses for solar include:

  • A. General Engineering
  • B. General Building
  • C-4. Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting (for solar thermal systems)
  • C-10. Electrical (for photovoltaics only)
  • C-20. Warm-Air, HVAC (HVAC systems that utilize solar energy)
  • C-36. Plumbing (solar thermal systems)
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Solar Equipment Certification

Under the Solar Energy Standards Act of 1976, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is responsible for certifying all solar equipment sold in Florida, unless the equipment has been otherwise certified by a licensed engineer to meet the standards in Florida's most recent building code. 

A manufacturer who wishes to have their solar equipment certified first contacts FSEC for an application and requests that FSEC test samples of the product at random. Equipment is then subjected to a series of tests in order to be approved or denied certification. Standards and applications procedures for specific technologies are available on the

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Energy Portfolio Standard

Nevada established a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) as part of its 1997 restructuring legislation. Under the standard, NV Energy (formerly Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power) must use eligible renewable energy resources to supply a minimum percentage of the total electricity it sells. In 2001, the state increased the minimum requirement by 2% every two years, culminating in a 15% requirement by 2013. The portfolio requirement has been subsequently revised, most significantly by SB 358 (2019), which increased the requirement to 50% by 2030. In addition to solar, qualifying renewable energy resources include biomass, geothermal energy, wind, certain hydropower, energy

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Renewable Energy Contractor Licensing

Oregon requires trade licenses for individuals installing solar energy equipment, and contractor licenses for the companies that do construction.

Companies with an electrical contractor license may engage in the business of making electrical installations. Similarly a plumbing contractor license allows a company to engage in the business of making plumbing installations. Companies must also meet licensing and bonding requirements of the Construction Contractors Board.

Individuals doing installations must hold a trade license. Solar electric installers must either hold an Electrical Journeyman's License or a Limited Renewable Energy License (LRT). General Journeymen can do all aspects of solar electric work, whereas

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Residential Alternative Energy System Tax Credit

Repealed by S.B. 399. Credit is unavailable for installations in beginning in 2022.

Residential taxpayers who install an energy system using a recognized non-fossil form of energy on their home after December 31, 2001 are eligible for a tax credit equal to the amount of the cost of the system and installation of the system, not to exceed $500. This cap is for individual taxpayers, so married taxpayers filing jointly can get a tax credit of up to $1,000 per household. The tax credit may be carried over for the following four taxable years.

Recognized non-fossil forms of energy

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Clean Energy Revenue Bond Program

New Mexico's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bonding Act, which became law in April 2005, authorizes up to $20,000,000 in bonds to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in state government and school district buildings. At the request of a state agency or school district, the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department will conduct an energy assessment of a building to determine specific efficiency measures which will result in energy and cost savings. A state agency or school district may install or enter into contracts for the installation of energy efficiency measures on the building identified in

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Comprehensive Energy Savings Plan for State Facilities

Minnesota has several energy efficiency policies for state buildings, dating back to 2001. In April 2011, Governor Dayton signed a series of Executive Orders which created a comprehensive energy savings plan for state facilities. In addition to creating several new initiatives, the Orders also incorporated existing energy efficiency and renewable energy statutes and programs. inn April 2019, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 19-27 which updated existing guidelines for energy reduction and procurement.

Energy Reduction Requirements
Executive Order 11-12 set a goal of reducing energy use in state facilities by 20%. The Order does not set a deadline for reaching this

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