Workers should look to the solar installation fieldVia Philly.comAt a time when job opportunities are shrinking, there’s one industry that’s looking up. Renewable energy jobs are growing even faster now that President Obama has signed his $787 billion recovery package into law. You might be able to move into these jobs from another field. "Many of the jobs will require on-the-job training or apprenticeship-level training," says Neil Lurie, spokesperson for the American Solar Energy Society in Boulder, Colo. "Not everyone will have to go to four-year or advanced degree programs for specific technical skills," he says.Look up to see the source of many emerging renewable energy jobs: the sun. For years, there’s been talk of harnessing the sun’s energy to serve our need for power. We’re closer than ever. "The economic stimulus bill had 16 provisions that directly benefit the solar industry," says Colin Lantz, vice president of sales and marketing with Lighthouse Solar in Boulder. Although solar companies may hire all sorts of workers, from accountants to sales people to engineers, one of the hottest jobs is solar installer. "It’s a good, shovel-ready career," says Lantz. "If you have a construction background, you can easily get into the solar installation world."Up on the RoofGetting started may mean climbing up on the roof. Right now, the industry is unregulated, so training varies. It’s possible to get a job in most states as an installer with little or no certification. There are training programs offered by Solar Energy International in Carbondale, Colo., or the more extensive North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification. Requirements vary locally and by employer. This could change as this relatively new and quickly growing industry changes, says Lantz.Can You Measure (Up)?If you can measure and cut, the sort of basic construction experience a framer has, you can learn solar installation. "We look for people with solar installation experience first, but barring that, we look for either electrical contracting experience or general construction experience," Lantz says. The electrical experience comes in handy; the NABCEP certification gets heavy into electrical code and for good reason. Solar panels gather high voltage power and those who work around them need to know their stuff.Where the Jobs AreThese jobs are, well, hot. There are more solar installer jobs in the sunniest states, such as the Southwest. So Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona are good bets, says Lurie. "California doubled the number of solar installations in 2008" compared to 2007, "about half of the country’s solar installs," he says. But geography isn’t the only factor to consider. Some states have what Lurie calls a "renewable portfolio standard," a mandate to convert a certain portion of their energy to renewable sources by a certain date. "About half of the states in the U.S. have one," Lurie says. It just takes a little investigation to see if your state encourages renewable energy to see if e commercial and residential installs are on the rise.Lots to LikeWith a great outlook, good pay for a high school education plus on-the-job or certificate-level training and the chance to work outdoors, you can’t do much better than a solar installer. And you get to work outside and contribute to a good cause. You might even be able to help on a project that harnesses the sun’s energy to power not just one building but also thousands of homes or businesses.To view the original article click hereClick here for our guide to solar jobsFor the very latest solar jobs please click here |