Joe Schmo from Nowhereville woke up yesterday to the sounds of his nemesis neighbor, Steve Shmuck, getting a whole roof of solar panels installed. In an effort to out-do his hated neighbor Joe decided not only to get a whole roof of solar panels on his own house, but to start a solar installation and maintenance company. Unfortunately for Joe, who was just laid off from the electrical company, he was completely in the dark on how to get the whole process started. Then, in the ninth hour of research he stumbled upon the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) website where he found all the information he needed on their Department of Energy (DOE) endorsed solar licensing database.

In reality, Joe and Steve don’t really exist, but the IREC’s solar licensing database is as real as the computer you’re reading this from. Designed to help contractors, start ups, and anyone seriously interested in joining the millions of people buying solar panel installations, the IREC’s database offers myriad information on rules, regulations, and practices that will tell you exactly what steps need to be taken to ensure a thorough, quality, and up-to-code solar installation.

While only 14 states in the U.S. have laid out clear regulations regarding solar energy, the database works in concert with the DOE, constantly updating and evolving as regulations are introduced, added, and changed.

“As licensing requirements emerge and change in individual states, IREC felt that it could contribute by providing this resource of existing requirements that can be used as a reference tool,” said Pat Fox, IREC’s Director of Operations. “IREC is broadly recognized as a unique resource and conduit for change in the renewable energy arena. This database is just one of many IREC resources it offers free of charge to the public.”

Hoping to help provide licensure and certification to the explosion of the solar market, a growth of 40 percent from 2008 to 2009, the database’s goal is to get the installers in the field, who come from a wide variety of backgrounds, up to speed on the specific challenges of solar installation.

For more information, visit the database at http://irecusa.org/2010/08/solar-licensing-information/