Blue Lake Municipal Code Ch. 13.28 Solar Energy Program

It is the intent of this chapter to establish a Municipal Solar Utility within the City of Blue Lake for the purpose of facilitating the direct leasing of solar energy equipment and to establish regulatory authority for any solar leasing operation that may be conducted under the program.

For the purposes of this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them by this section.

"Leasing company"

means any person advertising, marketing, placing, installing or maintaining solar energy devices pursuant to a leasing agreement.

"Municipal Solar Utility (MSU)"

means any program conducted by the City of Blue Lake or its authorized agent to promote the utilization of renewable energy and energy conservation technologies through educational, consumer protection, or financial assistance programs.

"Solar energy device"

means and includes equipment and materials that are intended to be located on, or affixed to, real property that uses solar energy directly to (1) heat or cool a building or structure; (2) provide domestic hot water or hot water for recreational or therapeutic uses; or (3) provide process heat or mechanical energy or generate electricity.

"Solar lease arrangement"

means a contract between a lessee and an investor for the leasing of solar energy devices owned by the investor and leased and possessed by the lessee, which is affixed to or located at and servicing the real property owned by the lessee.

A. No person shall operate a solar leasing company under the MSU program of the City of Blue Lake as established in this chapter without having obtained a solar leasing permit from the City Council of the City of Blue Lake. Such a permit shall authorize the conduct of solar leasing operations under the MSU program for a period of one year and may be renewable. After the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, and within 90 days after receiving the first written request from a leasing company for a solar leasing permit, the City Council shall, by resolution, establish all requirements for obtaining certification under the MSU program. Such requirements shall include, but not be limited to, those which protect consumers against inexperienced or financially unstable leasing companies, substandard equipment or installation practices, or unfair lease arrangements.

B. Reasonable fees shall be established to cover the cost of the MSU and shall be established by resolution of the City Council from time to time.