Dan Lepinski, P.E.
Serving the Solar Industry Since 1972
Latest News
AHJ & Fire Solar Code Training Mid-October
(date TBD)
For Code and Fire Officials,
Electrical & Solar Contractors,
Electricians, PE, and Others.
6.0 ICC Contact Hours with CEU
Texas Solar Laws
Effective September 1, 2025
SB 1036 - "Regulations for Solar Retailers"
Requires all solar retailers and salespeople to register with the state and pass background checks. Mandates plain language contract disclosures: total costs, financing terms, realistic savings estimates, and ownership details before you sign anything. Gives homeowners a five-business-day window to cancel any solar contract without penalty.
... and more.
SB 1036 TDLR Link to the law.
SB 1036 Local link to the law.
SB 1202 Link to the law.
"SB 1252 - Relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system."
SB 1252 Link to the law.
Effective September 1, 2023
HB3526 - "A municipality may not apply a municipal building code to the construction of a solar pergola."
HB 3526 Link to the law.
See our "Resources Page" for copies of the new law, plus existing "solar" laws.
Solar-powered Eagle Cam!
Every year, we "give back" by helping schools, charities, and non-profit organizations. We donate consultation time, provide designs, and assist very deserving groups to obtain solar energy equipment at low to no cost. 2020 was a very unique year for us in many ways - and one project in particular. In 2020, we designed a unique system with solar-powered cameras and streaming video. In August, 2025, this system was expanded to add a second high-resolution video camera. Click the links below for more information.
JBS Eagle Cam History & Story
Eagle Cam Installation Day Video
5 minute video
Eagle Cam #1 Live Video
Live video and sound! Infrared LED lighting at night gives a black & white image. Color otherwise.
Eagle Cam #2 Live Video
Higher resolution video with sound! No LED lighting at night.
JBS Eagle Cam Official Website
Info, History, Glossary, & more!
Useful Links
- Expedited Solar Permits
- Expedited Solar Permit Checklist
- Texas Board of Professional Engineers
- North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Codes Coordinating Committee
- North Central Texas Council of Governments Electrical Advisory Board
- US Dept of Energy Building Codes Assistance Project
- North Texas Renewable Energy Group
- Solar Glossary
- Oncor Interval Data
If it's related to solar energy in any
manner, and you don't see what you need, please contact us!
Our Next Code Training Seminars: Dates to be announced. Tentatively mid-October, 2026.
(Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules.)
Our Next Code Training Seminars: Dates to be announced. Tentatively mid-October, 2026.
(Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules.)
System Design & Engineering
- Residential
- Commercial
- Utility-Scale
- Farm & Ranch
- Agriculture (Solar water pumping, etc.)
- Off-Grid (No utility present)
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Standard Grid-tied (Grid-interactive) Systems
- "Hybrid" Systems with Battery Backup
- Micro-grid Systems (Grid-interactive and stand-alone).
- Rooftop or Ground-Mounted Systems
- New Construction or Retrofit Systems
- Micro-inverter, String, Micro-grid, and Central Inverter Topologies
Consultation
- Energy Analysis - Consumption and
Renewable Energy Reports Extensively detailed reports are
available from customer "15-minute" data provided to customers
free of charge by the utility company.
Download a Sample Energy Analysis Report: Sample Energy Analysis Report
(This sample report is only 12 pages in size. Actual reports range from 40 to 100 pages or more depending on the type of report and extent of detail requested by you and/or your customer.) - Permitting Assistance
- Initial Site Assessment
- Site Surveys
- Equipment Selection Assistance
- Assessment of Contractor Photovoltaic System Performance Quotes
Project Participation
- Permitting Assistance
- Utility Interconnections Documents
- Answers to Questions about Operation & Maintenance ("O & M")
Instruction, Seminars, AND Workshops
- Architects
- Professional Engineers
- Code Officials (Permitting and AHJ Inspection)
- Fire Chiefs, Fire Marshals, Arson Investigators
- Legislators, County and Municipal Elected Officials
- Educators (High school and University level preferred)
Our Next Code Training Seminar
Two days, tentatively mid-October. Dates to be announced.
Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules. You need attend only one.
Two days, tentatively mid-October. Dates to be announced.
Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules. You need attend only one.
Course: 2026 Electrical and Solar Code Seminar for AHJ, Fire Officials, Electrical Contractors, Electricians, and Professional Engineers
Description: 2026 Training for Code Enforcement (Permit & Inspection), Fire Chiefs, FIre Marshals, Electrical & Solar Contractors, Licensed Profesional Engineers, and others involved in the design, construction, and commissioning of solar electric systems, energy storage systems ("ESS") from residential size up to large-scale and container-based units for data centers, and more.
ICC Authorized Course Number: To Be Announced
(Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules.)
CEU: 6.0 ICC Contact Hours
Instructor: Dan Lepinski, P.E., International Code Council Preferred Education Provider # 2882
Who Should Attend:
-
Chief Building Officials, Permit Reviewers, Code Inspectors, and any current or prospective municipal, county, or state staff involved in the approval, inspection, or other aspects related to photovoltaic systems, solar energy codes, permitting, and zoning.
- Fire Professionals such as Fire Chiefs, Fire Marshals, Arson Investigators, and other fire personnel.
- Electrical Contractors, Solar Contractors, and Master & Journeyman Electricians. (Apprentice electricians also accepted, but are advised the seminar is of an advanced nature.)
-
Third-party Permit Reviewers and Inspectors authorized under Texas Laws SB 1202 and SB 1252.
- Anyone involved in the solar energy industry, solar equipment maintenance, Energy System Designers, as well as Licensed Professional Engineers.
Due to significant and ongoing changes in the solar and electrical industries, particularly energy storage systems ("ESS"), 2026 presentations have been substantially updated. Some tutorial and entry-level material from previous years' sessions has been removed to make time for the new information. Subsequently, 2026 seminars may not be suitable for inexperienced attendees.
When: Dates to be Announced. Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules. You need attend only one.
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Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: North Central Texas Council of Governments, 616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, Texas 76011
Centerpoint Two (middle building, first floor). R
(Map to Seminar.)
Bring: 2026 NEC (NFPA 70), 2024 International Residential Code, 2024 International Fire Code, NFPA 855 (at your option).
Cost: $175 per attendee. Includes box lunch. Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required.
Continuing Education: Qualifies for 6.0 International Code Council CEU contact hours.
Planned Topics Include but Are Not Limited To:
• 2026 NEC Code changes vs 2023 NEC
• Discussion on solar energy systems & energy storage systems ("ESS")
• Photovoltaic modules, connectors, and racking & mounting hardware
• Inverters, and inverters in parallel operation with generators
• "Islanded" (stand-alone) systems
• UL Standards: UL 1973, UL 1741/UL 62109 (Inverters)
• UL Standards: UL 2703, UL 3703, UL 6703 (Photovoltaic Modules & Photovoltaic Connectors)
• UL Standards: UL 9540, UL 9540A (Energy Storage Systems, Thermal / Flammability Tests
• Batteries, Energy Storage Systems, and installation considerations for Code compliance
• Fire risks posed by photovoltaic and energy storage systems
• Fire Code requirements for batteries
• Electric vehicles as power sources (vehicle-to-grid)
• Common Code violations
Updated and New Material in the 2026 Seminar:
• 2024 I-Code changes from the 2021 edition
1. International Fire Code, Section 1207
2. International Building Code, Section 1607.22 (Photovoltaic modules as live loads)
3. International Residential Code, Section 329 (Solar Energy Systems)
and Section 330 (Energy Storage Systems)
• NFPA 855 - Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems
• 2025 Texas law SB 1036: "Regulations for Solar Retailers". Provides solar customers strong consumer protections.
• 2025 Texas Laws: SB 1202 and SB 1252 - Third-party Permit Review and Code Inspection
• Large-scale and container-based Energy Storage Systems ("ESS")
• NEC Article 120 load calculations where electric vehicle ("EV") chargers are present.
NOTE! Load calculations have been moved to Article 120 in the 2026 NEC!
• Load Controllers, "Smart" panels as a service entry & backed-up loads panel.
• Inverters operating in parallel with backup generators.
• Inverters in peak-shaving and demand load reduction applications.
• Photovoltaic systems set up for zero backfed energy.
• "Balcony" solar and related code and safety issues
• Residential, commmercial/Industrial & large-scale solar and battery-backup systems
• Unlisted products, Counterfeit listings
• ... and our usual "Look Ahead". What to expect in coming years.
Ample time will be provided for questions and answers