An Act To Oarlfy the Qualifications of Iastallers UDder tile Solar Energy Rebate Program
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2061
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: BLANCHARD, BLISS, FAIRCLOTH
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3211-C

Legislative Document 
No. 21'1 
H.P.1445 
House of Representatives. December 21, 2007 
An Act To Oarlfy the Qualifications of Iastallers UDder tile Solar 
Energy Rebate Program 
(EMERGENCy) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 19, 2007. Referred to the Committee on 
Utilities and Energy pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401. 
Presented by Representative Mll.LER of Somerville. 
7r/~/J7.~ 
MILUCENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BLANCHARD of Old Town, BLISS of South Portland, 
FAIRCLOTH of Bangor, MacDONALD of Bootbbay. 
Printed on recyci«l paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, installers of solar energy systems have to take a course to be qualified to 
install solar energy systems; and 
. Whereas, current law requires that a licensed plumber sign off on the installation of 
a solar thermal water system that is installed by a qualified solar thermal water system 
installer before a person may receive a solar energy rebate; and 
Whereas, it is necessary that the rules be amended as soon as possible so that solar 
thermal water systems that have been installed by qualified installers may be approved 
and rebates may be issued without having a licensed plumber sign off on the installation; 
II 
and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
IS 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3211-C, sub-§l, ~C, as reallocated by RR 2005, c. 1, §17, 
is amended to read: 
C. "Solar thennal system" means a 60Rfigl:H'ati01'l of solar collectors ftRd a pump, heat 
eKoRanger afld storage taRl, or fans desigReEi to heat '>'>'ater or air space heating 
system, a domestic water heating system or a space and domestic water heating 
system. 
Solar thennal system types include forced circulation, integral collector 
storage, thermosyphon and self-pumping systems. 
Sec. 2. Rules amended. The Public Utilities Commission shall amend its rules 
pertaining to the solar energy rebate program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-
A, section 3211-C. 
1. 
The Public Utilities Commission shall amend the definition of "solar thennal 
system" to remove "configuration of solar collectors and a pump, heat exchanger and 
storage tank or fans designed to heat water or air" and insert "space heating system, 
domestic water heating system or a space and domestic water heating system." 
2. The Public Utilities Commission shall amend the definition of "qualified solar 
thermal water system installer" by removing reference to "licensed plumber" and the 
necessary qualifications and replacing it with language requiring that a technician in good 
34' 
standing with the commission has successfully completed an approved solar thermal 
training course and carries a current license as a master plumber, master oil burner 
technician or propane and natural gas technician or is a class 2 or 3 nationally certified 
refrigeration technician. 
3. The Public Utilities Commission shall amend its rules to indicate that a licensed 
plumber must install or sign off on a solar thermal system if the system is designed to 
heat potable water. 
4. The Public Utilities Commission shall amend its rules that pertain to requirements 
for obtaining a rebate to include language that states that applications for solar thermal 
systems must include a copy of the certificate of competency issued by the commission to 
the installer and that any system that incorporates the heating of potable water must also 
be accompanied by a copy of the master plumber's license or license number. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
II 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules pertaining to the 
solar energy rebate program: 
1. To amend the definition of "solar thermal system"; 
2. To clarify who qualifies as a qualified solar thermal system installer; 
3. To indicate that a licensed plumber must install or sign off on a solar !hennal 
system if it is designed to heat potable water; and 
4. To require that in order to obtain a rebate under the solar energy rebate program 
the application must be accompanied by a copy of a certificate of competency issued by 
the commissioner to the qualified installer and, if the system incorporates the heating of 
potable water, a copy of the master plumber's license or license number.