Legal aspects of solar energy

The objective of this book is to facilitate the realization of solar energy's potential through an analysis of the fundamental legal barriers that presently impede its widespread use. An overview of solar energy is provided and aspects of solar technology are examined, taking into account the sun, active solar-energy system, distribution, storage, applications, passive systems, the costs of solar systems, and the generation of electricity. Common-law doctrines and solar energy are considered along with a legislative approach concerned with questions of access to the sunlight, state and federal tax incentives to promote solar use, public and private methods of financing solar-energy devices, the relationship between utilities and solar energy, the limited role of warranties, and relations between oil companies and solar energy. An analysis is conducted of product standards, which hold great promise for overcoming user resistance, taking into account institutional barriers to solar commercialization, current solar standards development, and an evaluation of the significance of standards for solar-energy equipment.