INTRODUCED
BY J. Kassmier, C. Knudsen, G. Nikolakakos, B. Mitchell, L. Brewster, B. Ler,
G. Parry, P. Green, T. Smith
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT revising laws pertaining to solar panels and disclosure; providing that a person or manufacturer who sells or installs solar panels shall disclose certain facts relating to the production of the solar panels; and providing a definition."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Solar panel -- disclosure. (1) Prior to the sale of a solar panel, a person or manufacturer who sells a solar panel to or installs a solar panel for a property owner shall disclose:
(a) the country of origin of the solar panel;.
(b) the energy sources used to manufacture the solar panel;
(c) the approximate number of pounds of carbon emitted during the production of the solar panel; and
(d) a calculation based on the number of years and days the solar panel must be used until the solar panel generates enough electricity to make the solar panel carbon neutral. The calculation of carbon neutrality must consider the latitude of the property, the expected energy produced by a solar panel in the same geographical area, and the type of energy provided by electricity provider s serving the same geographical area, including but not limited to the power sources providing electricity in the locality.
(2) A violation of this section constitutes an unfair trade practice under Title 30, chapter 14, parts 1 and 2.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "solar panel" means a manufactured photovoltaic energy device that:
(a) is designed for the generation of electrical power from the collection of sunlight; and
(b) requires installation and must be affixed to residential real property.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 30, chapter 14, and the provisions of Title 30, chapter 14, apply to [section 1].