Utah officials OK additional regulations for solar energy

The solar energy industry is growing up, and state officials on Tuesday gave their blessing to something every maturing industry needs -- more regulations.

The proposed new rules would lay out license requirements for people who install electricity generation systems that use photovoltaic solar panels or small wind turbines.

"We're creating the chicken that can lay the egg so this can move forward," said Bradley Stevens, who sits on the state Construction Services Commission.

"This is an emerging industry and it will need to be licensed," said David Stanley, associate director of the state Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. "There will need to be rules set out."

Utah has a licensing process for solar energy installers, but the requirements apply to systems that heat water and mostly involve plumbing. The systems discussed Tuesday generate electricity and require expertise in that field.

The discussion was during a meeting of the Administrative Rules Review Committee, a group of legislators who examine regulations to make sure they fall within state law. They took no formal action on the new rules, which must go before the Construction Services Commission and then held up for public comment for 30 days.

If approved, the regulations would set up two tracks for licensing solar panel installers -- being certified by the National Association of Board Certified Electric Practitioners, or being a licensed contractor with enough demonstrated experience in the field to be approved by the state.

Problems with improperly installed electrical systems include electrical fires and systems that don't generate as much energy as they should because of poorly placed solar panels or inadequate materials, said Pete Sheehan, executive director of the NABCEP.

State Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley City, echoed those safety concerns during Tuesday's meeting.

"Certain crafts are licensed. They're licensed for a reason," he said. "I just hope, in your fledgling industry, that everybody with a pickup truck and a pair of pliers doesn't think they're an installer."