MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                             2681

producing alternative energy resources; and

WHEREAS, Among the choices of these alternative
energy sources, currently under development or
consideration, are electrical energy produced in nuclear
power plants, petroleum from shale rock, located in
western states, the possible use of geothermal energy
from the hot core of the earth, reversion of existing
power plants from oil powered generators to coal powered
generators, and solar energy. Further, it is clear from
the advances made in space technology that the scientists
of this nation have made great advances in the use of
solar energy and its advance applications; and

WHEREAS, In southern latitudes of our country, such
as Florida, homes are currently heated by advance
applications of solar energy as a result of the increase
in oil prices and in turn the cost of electrical energy
from utility companies to certain consumers has
decreased. There has been an increasing number of
businesses created which hold themselves out to the
public as being installers of radiant solar energy
heating systems and claiming to have expertise and
technical know—how to apply the use of solar energy for
home heating. It is abundantly clear that the average
home owner has little knowledge of the application of
radiant solar energy technology which could be employed
in heating his home, and therefore would fall easy prey
to the chicanery which was associated with the home
improvement industry before State regulations and
controls were enacted by the Maryland General Assembly;
and

WHEREAS, At this stage of development in solar
energy many technical and legal problems must be
considered in order to insure adequate protection of the
public. At this current time, the Federal Bureau of
Standards is studying the possibilities and capacities of
various materials used in the construction of collectors
of radiant solar energy for the purpose of determining
the necessary benefits of the materials essential for
optimum and efficient use in constructing solar energy
collectors. In addition, the very nature of solar energy
collectors at this stage of development requires that the
collectors be placed upon roof tops or in open fields.
Immediately, the legal problems created by the
construction or installation of such collectors on roof
tops and open fields requires that existing zoning laws,
building codes, and standards for construction materials
be revised, and the reexamination of air rights, the
reexamination of that body of law dealing with attractive
nuisances, the examination of building codes from the
aspect of implementing radiant solar energy system on an
existing building constructed during the period when
housing code regulations were nonexistent, the
relationship and legal rights of the various parties
concerned as between a private home owner installing a
radiant solar energy system in relation to the existing