Iowa solar-system installers want state licensing

[Right Lane Cruiser]

The law doesn't specifically identify solar thermal systems but does refer to hydronics (recirculating liquid heating and cooling) and related systems.

Dave Dewitte - CHICAGOTRIBUNE - December 28, 2009

Is this going to negatively impact DIY installers? --Ed.

Iowa's lack of specific professional standards for solar-systems installers is impeding the development of a solar power industry in Iowa, some longtime observers say.

The problem, said Greg Watkins, renewable energy planner for the Iowa Office of Energy Independence, is that Iowa's regulatory framework prevents some installers with specialized training and certification in solar systems from working and allows others with no specific solar-systems knowledge to do the work.

"A lot of people who aren't certified are installing systems," Watkins said. "The work isn't up to par. It does the whole renewable energy industry a disservice."

The implementation last year of statewide licensing for plumbers and electricians required virtually everyone who installs electrical and plumbing systems in Iowa to have a statewide license. Those statewide licenses allow plumbers to install solar hot-water heating systems and electricians to install solar heating or electrical systems, regardless of training or certification with the systems.

Retired schoolteacher Tom Snyder of Dyersville has been installing solar hot-water systems for about 40 years and has a national certification in them. None of that mattered under Iowa's statewide licensing.

Snyder and a handful of other solar installers in the state had to either get a license in the appropriate trade or hire a licensed plumber or electrician to pull permits for the jobs and review their work.

Snyder decided to pay $250 and take the test to obtain a... [Read More]

[Jalen]

I don't think this is a bad idea, even with the possible detriment to the do-it yourselfers.

The reason being, I'd rather have people trained and properly certified to do the instalation work to do so. If you do it yourself, sure you may be confident in your work; but if you make a mistake and miss it there's the possibility of massive repair cost, and devalued homes when you finaly chose to sell. Sure, it's an extra layerof expense, and sure it's a pain if you install it and have to have a certified 'solar' tech pull permits and inspect work, but in the end it's better all around.

[worthywads]

More attempts by an industry to limit who can do the work.

Interior decorators try to say only licensed interior decorators can legally decorate interiors too.

And governments have no problem doing the enforcing if they can get revenue out of it.