Commissioners in a Northern Idaho county unanimously approved earlier this week a solar power ordinance that will help solar power users save money on energy bills and will legislate standards once the ordinance is on the books, according to published reports.

Blaine County commissioners voted on Tuesday to approve the "solar collector ordinance", which sets standards for the installation of solar panel systems. The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation, a Florida-based non-profit, must certify solar panels.

"It's important that people know there's a framework for permitting these facilities so they can go forward with some measure of confidence," according to Larry Schoen, one of the commissioners.

Before the ordinance was approved, the county code held no language that regulated solar collector systems.

In order for the ordinance to be legislated, commissioners have to sign the findings. Should the commissioners sign off during their meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, the approved ordinance then would be implemented by the end of 2010.

"We want to encourage the use of solar energy," according to Schoen.