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Latest News

Solar & Electrical Code Training June 8 & 10

For Code and Fire Officials,

Electrical & Solar Contractors,

Electricians, PE, and Others.

6.0 ICC Contact Hours with CEU


Full details and downloadble registration

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 - Relating to third-party review of property development documents and inspections of improvements related to those documents, including home backup power installations.
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.
 

 The Eagle Cam Story
JBS Eagle Cam History & Story
 
 Eagle Cam Installation Day Video
5 minute video
 
 Eagle Cam #1 Live Video LIVE
Live video and sound! Infrared LED lighting at night gives a black & white image. Color otherwise.
 
Eagle Cam #2 Live Video LIVE
Higher resolution video with sound! No LED lighting at night.
 
 JBS Eagle Cam Official Website
Info, History, Glossary, & more!

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Useful Links


Our Services

North Texas Renewable Energy Engineering provides a wide variety of services, including but not limited to solar energy systems design, assistance, detailed energy consumption and generation reports, and much more.  The sections below are representative of SOME of the services we provide.

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: Monday June 8 & Wednesday June 10. Click here for more information.
(Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules.)

System Design & Engineering

System design work for existing sites may also include assessment of the existing electrical system for Code compliance based on photos you provide to us.  This is a voluntary service on our part, governed by the quality of photos you provide and other considerations.


Consultation

Project Participation



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
 Monday, June 8 & Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
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: 51610
(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.
Sessions are open to anyone involved in the solar energy industry, ESS, "smart electrical panels", programmable load control, and others who would benefit from this training.
 
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: Monday, June 8 & Wednesday, June 10. Identical sessions on two separate days to accommodate attendee schedules. You need attend only one.
 
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), John Pitstick Conference Room
(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
 
Download a 2026 Code Training Registration Form.
Submittal instructions are included in the form.
Click HERE for payment instructions (if needed).

DO NOT PAY UNTIL YOU RECEIVE AN INVOICE CONFIRMING YOUR REGISTRATION

 
Prepayment is required to secure your registration.
 
If you receive an invoice, there's still space available.
 
Pay: Via municipal, company or personal credit or debit card, or business or personal check on site.
 
If paying with a debit or credit card, a payment link will be sent to you in the invoice.
 
If paying by check on site, please make checks payable to Dan Lepinski, P.E.
 
Refunds will not be issued for no-shows.
  
Questions/Comments? Contact Us
 
Click HERE to download an illustrated printable PDF of the payment instructions.
You may also follow the instructions below:
 
  1. Click the "Click Here to Pay" button below.
    This will take you to the "Square" site for transaction processing.

  2. On the "Square" site, select the total number of people for whom you will be paying (regardless of class date) using the '-' and '+' buttons. Verify the correct number of attendees is shown before you proceed to the next step.

  3. Click the "Checkout" button. This will take you to the "Checkout" page.

  4. At the top of the "Checkout" page, verify the number of attendees. Attendee count is shown as "Order Summary", and an "Item" count.

  5. If incorrect, close the tab and start over. Enter the correct number of attendees, then click the "Checkout" button again.

  6. Scroll down to the "Contact" section and enter your phone number. (Ignore the "Add Coupon" box and the box with the course title.)

  7. IMPORTANT! To receive a receipt: Enter your e-mail address in the box provided. If you leave this box blank, no receipt will be sent.

  8. If you're paying for city staff, type the name of your city, and "Texas" respectively for "First" & "Last" name. If you're paying for company employees, enter your company name in the "First Name" box, and the city where your company is located in the "Last Name" box. If you're paying for yourself or just one individual, enter first and last names in the boxes provided.

  9. Enter your debit or credit card number, card expiration date (MM/YY), and security number (CVV) in the boxes provided.

  10. Scroll down to the red "Pay" button. Click it, and follow the on-screen instructions.

    11. If you wish to cancel the transation, simply close the window before you click "Pay". You may return and start over at any time.
     

DO NOT PAY UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED AN INVOICE CONFIRMING YOUR REGISTRATION

2026 AHJ, Fire & Solar Code Training

$175.00

Click Here to Pay
 
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