Young adults train for green jobs(By Elisha Sauers via HometownAnnapolis.com)Local Job Corps graduates might be green when it comes to work experience, but now they have new "green" skills to set them apart as they enter the job market.Elisha Sauers — The Capital Robert Owens, 23, Michael Wooley, 23, and Anna Smallwood, 21, are students in the new “green jobs” training program at the Woodland Job Corps Center. Over the past two weeks, they and other students helped install this solar-panel system in their school’s parking lot.AdvertisementWoodland Job Corps Center, located on the edge of Anne Arundel County in Laurel, is the first Job Corps school nationwide to officially offer solar-panel installation training, the local Job Corps staff said.About 75 students from low-income backgrounds throughout the region - all of whom are currently unemployed - will be in the first class of participants this year, officials said.Job Corps is a free education and technical program for disadvantaged students between the ages of 16 and 24, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.This "green job" program - known by its technical term as photovoltaic installation - was created through a partnership of the Woodland Job Corps Center, Anne Arundel Community College and the Chesapeake chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors.During the past two weeks, licensed contractors have advised the students as they have learned hands-on, building a five-panel, solar-energy system at the Woodland site.The professionals from IEC Chesapeake have donated about 145 work hours to help initialize the program. With approval from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, a volunteer board of renewable-energy representatives, the chapter can administer an entry-level certificate of knowledge for solar installation.Congressional representatives, students and instructors officially launched the program during a ceremony yesterday at the Woodland site, with a ribbon-cutting for the completed solar panels at the school.Kevin Boston, Woodland's business and community liaison manager, said the new program is a great way for the development center to celebrate its 45th anniversary of services to young people in the Chesapeake region.Anna Smallwood, 21, was one of the students who helped build the solar-panel system and currently is training to become an independent electrical contractor."It makes me feel good," she said about her new skill set. "(Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. rates) have gone up so much since 2005, so I think it's better for everyone to learn about solar energy. It saves money, electricity and it's good for the environment."Though Smallwood and some of her Job Corps peers agree that the economy has created a bleak job market, they said they have newfound confidence because of the training they are receiving.Many of them said they believe that jobs in the field of renewable energy are part of a growth industry."Being in the program helps us get a step forward," said Kelita Winston, 22, a Woodland student ambassador.Michael Wooley and Robert Owens, both 23, said they've already learned a lot about photovoltaic technology through the training program. While pointing out the silicon grid on the modules, they explained how the panels were positioned at just the right angle to take advantage of the most sunlight throughout the day.During a blazing hot, cloudless day yesterday, the system was no doubt at its peak performance. But even on an overcast day, the panels will continue to charge and have a high-voltage current running through them, Wooley said.And the green is spreading. The community college also will offer the photovoltaic training as part of its continuing-education program.Laura E. Weidner, executive director of the school's Center for Workforce Solutions, said she anticipates the classes will attract many professional electricians and carpenters.Many tradesmen these days are looking f |