From the Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic:
Led by Clinic Director and Clinical Professor Wendy Jacobs, HLS students have prevailed in a two-year battle to lift restrictions on the installation of solar power in Massachusetts.
For more than 2 years, the Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic has represented a group of general contractors who specialize in renewable energy projects but were being blocked from installing solar power by a state licensing board. Taking a position that was contrary to a host of state programs designed to promote solar energy, the Massachusetts State Board of Examiners of Electricians tried to prevent anyone other than licensed electricians from organizing, managing or installing solar power in the state. The Clinic stepped in to defend the solar contractors in enforcement actions and challenge the Board’s policy.
On July 18, 2012, the court granted summary judgment in the clinic’s favor holding unequivocally that: “Plaintiffs may advertise and contract for PV System installations and subcontract with licensed electricians.” The court agreed with the clinic and rejected the Board’s interpretation “because it ‘is not supported by the language of the statute, the context from which it arose, any consistent administrative interpretation, or the legislative policy on which the statute is based.'” The case is Carroll v. Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians, No. 10-3408-C.
The win is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the HLS clinic students. Said Wendy Jacobs, “I could not be prouder of them. At least 7 of our students have worked on this case since 2009, representing the clients in administrative hearings and litigation and filing at least a dozen briefs. Four students presented oral arguments in this case, and two of them–Nick McDaniel and Chris Rendall-Jackson—even returned after graduation to do so.” Jody Freeman, Director of the HLS Environmental Law Program, praised Jacobs, staff attorney Shaun Goho and the students for their persistence, “After a hard fought battle, our Clinic finally prevailed. The result is good public policy and a significant step forward for clean energy in the state of Massachusetts.”