Green Jobs for a Clean Energy Economy

What do an auto mechanic, a college student, and a construction worker have in common? Green jobs. Millions of federal stimulus and state dollars are being invested to develop a clean energy workforce.

Demand is growing for employees who have skills in the clean technology arenas including energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation.

From hands-on jobs such as installing solar panels and maintaining electric vehicles to computer programming and researching fuel cell technologies, the American job landscape is poised to grow a low-carbon, clean energy economy.

Almost $75 million will be invested in the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program to create a well-trained workforce capable of filling the jobs necessary to promote renewable energy development, climate change strategies, vehicle fuel technology and green buildings.

Statewide partnerships of state agencies, educational institutions, local workforce investment boards, community organizations and professional traininers are moving forward to deliver 21st century training programs for workers with all levels of experience.

This collaborative effort combines funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the State Energy Program (SEP), the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program established by AB 117, Workforce Investment Act Governor's Discretionary funds, and private and local funds to create what's believed to be the nation's largest green job workforce development program.

California gets federal stimulus money for solar jobs training

• Department of Energy sends $3.5 Million to state

• To be spent on developing a training plan

The California Solar Training Partnership has received $3.5 million of federal stimulus money through the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a regional solar jobs resource and training center.

The center, one of nine in the nationwide “Installer Instructor Training Network,” will enable California to build a trained clean energy workforce, the California Energy Commission says.

The money will be used by a joint effort of the Energy Commission, the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the California Center of Sustainable Energy to develop a training curriculum and provide professional development for trainers in solar photovoltaic and solar heating and cooling technologies.

Good Pay Without a 4-Year Degree

A well-paying, rewarding career doesn't have to mean a four-year slog through college. There are plenty of jobs that pay nicely with less education, ranging from certificate courses just a few months long to two-year community college programs.

Education costs for most of these careers are modest -- you might even pay nothing at all. If you're from a low-income family and between 18-24, you may qualify to receive up to three years of free job training, housing and support services through the federal program Job Corps. National program director Esther Jacobs says Job Corps serves roughly 100,000 students a year.

"We're the best-kept secret in this country," she says.

Otherwise, technical and vocational schools or private training companies are a great choice, and many offer financial aid. Most training programs will help you with job placement when you're done, too.

Here's a look at some of the best-paying jobs you can get into fast, listed with their median annual pay rate for someone with three to five years' experience, according to PayScale.com.

Solar energy systems installer - $44,460.
This and many other "green" jobs are hot now, as the recently signed federal stimulus bill put billions into alternative energy and energy conservation. Albrecht reports classes in this field are filling up fast at his college, as a boom in installing solar panels is expected.

Network installers / administrators - $49,801.

Court reporter - $47,275.

Clinical laboratory technologist - $47,081.

HVAC installer - $44,814.

Computer numerical control - $44,629.

Security and fire-alarm installers - $41,417.

Aircraft mechanic - $39,584.

92% Of Americans Support Solar

A vast majority of Americans, across all political parties, overwhelmingly support development and funding of solar energy, and their support for solar has remained consistent over the last year, according to the 2009 SCHOTT Solar Barometer, a nationally representative survey conducted by independent polling firm Kelton Research.

The survey found that 92% of Americans think it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar energy. This strong support for solar remains unchanged since Americans were asked the same questions in the June 2008 SCHOTT Solar Barometer (94%). (The difference is within the margin of error for both polls.)

This support for solar power is consistent across political party affiliation, with 89% of Republicans, 94% of Democrats and 93% of Independents agreeing that it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar power.

Furthermore, close to eight in 10 (77%) Americans feel that the development of solar power and other renewable energy sources should be a major priority of the federal government, including the financial support needed, according to the report. This sentiment also remains the same since June 2008 (77%).

The poll also showed that if they had to choose one energy source to financially support if they were president, 43% of Americans would opt for solar over other sources such as wind (17%), natural gas (12%) and nuclear (10%). Almost half (49%) of all Americans are currently pondering solar power options for their home or business.

However, many respondents feel they lack information on solar, as fewer than one in five (12%) can claim that they are extremely informed about the subject of solar power in general. Almost three in four (74%) Americans admit they wish they knew more about solar power options for their home or business.

The industry shows unlimited growth, Now is the time to learn about Solar and Photovoltaics.

KNOW the CODE

Many of the PV systems in use and being installed today may not be in compliance with the National Electrical Codes (NEC) and other local codes.


There are several contributing factors to this situation:

• The PV industry has a strong “grass roots,” do-it-yourself faction that is not fully aware of the dangers associated with low-voltage and high-voltage, direct-current (dc), PV-power systems.

• Some people in the PV community may believe that PV systems below 50 volts are not covered by the NEC.

• Electricians and electrical inspectors have not had significant experience with direct-current portions of the Code or PV power systems. The electrical equipment industries do not advertise or widely distribute equipment suitable for dc use that meets NEC requirements.

• Popular publications are presenting information to the public that implies that PV systems are easily installed, modified, and maintained by untrained personnel.

• Photovoltaic equipment manufacturers have, in some cases, been unable to afford the costs associated with testing and listing by approved testing laboratories like Underwriters Laboratories or ETL.

• Photovoltaic installers and dealers in many cases have not had significant experience installing ac residential and/or commercial power systems.

The only way to know how to properly install a photovoltaic system and ensure that you are following critical electrical codes, is to be trained by a knowledgeable source.

California’s goal of getting 33 percent of its electricity from the sun, the wind and other renewable sources by 2020 might be more feasible than previously thought, according to a new government report.

If all the renewable power projects proposed in the state last year were built, California would easily surpass that goal, according to a report issued Wednesday by the California Public Utilities Commission. All told, those projects would generate 24,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for 18 million homes.

That’s on top of the renewable power already flowing in California. According to the report, solar plants and wind farms built in California during 2008 can generate 516 megawatts of electricity, roughly as much as a midsize, fossil-fuel power plant. The previous year, the state only added 113 megawatts of renewable power.

Make sure your experts really are...

There are many companies providing 'Solar Training' these days. When you make a choice to spend money to be trained be sure you are picking a company that really are experts in the field.

Ask the important questions when you look for training.
Take a close look at things like why would their advertisements show an installer standing on fragile solar panels if they were truly experts?

Any expert will tell you to NEVER stand or walk on, or over the solar panels. Think and plan your working position ahead especially if you are working in a limited space. Safety should always be your number one concern.

Ask yourself, is PV / Solar training their core competency? or is it just another money making module they provide mixed in with nursing or other computer vocational classes.

One more thing, wearing shorts on a hot roof is not advised, as well as having tools dangling just inches from very expensive solar modules is not the best practice. Want to learn what real experts know? Find the best PV/ Solar training today.

PV Training

Semiconductor engineers have the right talent to move into the solar industry. NuCO can help you make the transition from Semi to Solar.

If your time is limited or you just can't commit to a classroom training program, a NuCo on-line training program is the perfect answer for your Solar / PV training needs.

It's not so easy after all

When it comes to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, there's a common misconception that this growing technology — and the products that accompany it — are simple to install, modify, and maintain by untrained personnel. In reality, it's quite the opposite.

As this market continues to expand, there's actually a lack of qualified electricians and inspectors performing this type of work. As a result, many installed PV systems are not in compliance with the NEC and local regulations.

Let's take a look at some of the problem areas and why confusion still surrounds certain sections of the Code.

History lesson

Starting about 1973 in Braintree, Mass., the solar PV industry began in earnest in the United States with PV systems being installed on homes and businesses. The industry was not regulated until 1984 when Art. 690 was added to the NEC, which began addressing some of the different aspects that PV systems have from other electrical systems.

Since that time, the PV industry has rapidly evolved in technology and applications. Presently, the third generation of technology is commonly used. Although the NEC has changed quite a bit over this time period, a quick look at Art. 690 of the 1987 NEC reads very similar to the same section in the 2008 NEC. Why is this the case?

In the beginning, there was little guidance on how to use PV technology, and many inventive souls were quite creative in finding ways to tap this new energy source. Some early PV systems were as simple as using the DC voltage of the PV arrays to charge or supplement batteries that supplied DC power for lighting or homemade inverters. This gave way to more advanced inverters and eventually to systems that could connect to the electric utility grid. Each new development introduced another set of advantages as well as problems — not only from an installation perspective, but also from a safety standpoint.

Commercial use of small PV systems was sometimes difficult or expensive to install until the adoption of the 2008 NEC. One of the principal reasons for this resulted from language in the 2005 NEC that sometimes required the user to upgrade the main service — often doubling the service size — just to add a meager 2.5kW PV system to a subpanel. The rule change [690.64(B)] now allows the actual PV contribution to be considered at the main service and also includes the same bus loading provision that has been allowed on residential applications since 1987.

These are just a few examples that help demonstrate common PV installations. Because this niche will inevitably continue to change rapidly in the future, That's why it's more important than ever for electrical professionals to stay informed, stay safe, and stay trained on the latest changes in this ever-evolving industry.

Lack of qualified installation personnel is a significant barrier to market expansion

The U.S. solar industry is experiencing rapid increases in demand for solar products and a subsequent increase in demand for a downstream workforce to install solar systems. According to a recent study of job growth in California’s solar industry, which is the largest solar market in the U.S., the industry expects to add 5,000 new jobs in five occupations within the solar installation workforce (solar thermal installers, solar photovoltaic installers, sales representatives, solar engineers, and solar installation foremen) over the 12-month period in 2008 – 2009 .

However, 77% of employers surveyed cited having difficulty in recruiting entry-level employees with appropriate training and education. As other state markets are growing, states and localities across the U.S. are facing similar training challenges in meeting their burgeoning local solar industry. This lack of qualified installation personnel is a significant barrier to market expansion and widespread adoption of solar PV and solar heating and cooling (SHC) technologies and for ensuring the safe and high-quality installation of these systems.

SETP defines the PV and SHC installation workforce as the set of workers involved in the process of selling, designing, engineering, installing, commissioning, and repairing PV or SHC systems. The workers are in non-manufacturing occupations only, including public employees such as code officials.

Educational institutions face many challenges in developing programs to meet the needs of the growing solar industry. Increasingly, educational institutions are having difficulty finding qualified instructors to develop and teach courses and meet the student demand. While some curricula has been developed, there is not widespread use of any model curricula, and instructors are often forced to develop their courses and programs from scratch, sometimes without sufficient expertise in PV or SHC technologies. There is little opportunity to share best practices, and educational providers across the U.S. are grappling with similar training questions. Since the solar industry is relatively young, growing rapidly, and dependent on subsidies, labor market information and workforce development needs can be difficult to quantify, rendering planning difficult for workforce systems. Community college leaders and industry executives report that many community colleges are unable to meet the demand for training in their region because of critical capacity constraints such as insufficient resources to support training facilities and equipment, curriculum, faculty, and/or other elements necessary to provide the volume or quality of training industry requiries. There is a clear need for a nationally coordinated effort within the U.S. educational infrastructure to develop model curricula and best practices and to spread solar installation training to the local level.

This Topic intends to address the workforce development needs of the solar industry, both for grid-tied PV systems in residential, commercial, and utility markets, and for SHC systems. Funded activities are not intended to support off-grid PV applications. This activity will be carried out in close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education.

Why Professional Solar Installation Matters

If you type "do it yourself (DIY) solar" into Google, you will get over 2.4 million hits. There are innumerable "instructional materials" in addition to sources for every component and tool you would need to do your own installation. Some packets of information are free, some cost up to $40, but most are collections of articles and Adobe PDF manuals showing how to make and install your own, energy-efficient, "green-approved" solar panels and other devices.

Read the fine print

The DIY plans gloss over the difficulties as they paint a rosy picture of these "hobbyists" making their homes green and eco-friendly. However, it is a big mistake to assume that people with building skills necessarily know about solar energy installations, or that people excited about "being green" know either carpentry or building codes. If you are going to complete any DIY solar project successfully, you will first have to get up to speed on all the skills required even to begin such a huge undertaking. For the vast majority of people there is a serious investment of time required for study, even before the first panel gets placed.

Why professional installation matters

Professional installers have seen it all – every kind of house, every type of roof, every potential obstacle – and have developed comprehensive problem-solving skills unique to these kinds of projects. Although some DIY solar-kit brochures make it sound like something anyone could do, installing solar panels and integrating them into your home's power grid is a complex undertaking. It requires diverse skills in construction, carpentry, and electrical wiring skills. Unless you can bring the same level of expertise and experience to the project as a professional, using a reputable installer will save you time and money while ensuring the highest quality of both materials and workmanship.

A reputable solar installer will know the ins and outs of the building codes and ordinances in your area, and also have information on all the federal, state, county and local grants, subsidies and rebate programs that can help offset the cost of the installation. Your "sunk costs" as a DIY'er include a substantial investment in tools, supplies and time, while using an installer's lets you "leverage" their long-term, cost-efficient commitments to the tools and technical skills needed for your solar installation.

The reasons for using an installer are many, it is in your economic and environmental interest to use them. The work will be guaranteed, and their expertise will be available to you for any needed repairs or upgrades. A final and important advantage is that you will be up and running faster, meaning that you will be saving money on energy sooner.

Getting Serious

For those who wish to make solar panel installation a business, you should seriously consider getting certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

According to its own literature, since its conception in 2003, NABCEP has certified hundreds of solar panel installers around the country. (if you’re reading closely, you’ll realize just how much opportunity to make money exists in an industry with only a handful of licensed practitioners in each state!

Indeed, at least in California, solar panel installers were recently predicted to be one of the five highest demand jobs over the coming decade.)

In order to ensure the quality of licensed installers, sitting for the NABCEP exam is not so simple as signing up for the exam and taking it. They require either experience, education, or a combination of the two. The goal of learning all of this information is for you to know how to install a photovoltaic system either at your own home or professionally for others. For those who wish to take their career to the next level they can attend a professional training class and receive the preferred NABCEP training they require.

Certified Installers Rising

Advances in photovoltaic technologies are helping to make residential and commercial solar systems more efficient, and tax breaks and financial support from both federal and state programs are making them more affordable. But let’s face it, neither lab-coat-wearing scientists nor suit-wearing politicians are going up on your roof to install your new solar panels.

Solar installers, on the other hand, are basking in business and lining up work from both residential and commercial clients over the next few years, and as a result are creating jobs and jockeying for top position.

The trend has also been felt nationwide. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, which provides certifications for installers through education and qualification exams, said the number of member institutions that have begun offering such exams has jumped 39 percent since August. The number of students that have taken the exam has jumped 27 percent since the beginning of 2007.

What's next for your career?

At times like this it may be hard to think about a change in careers, but with layoffs and companies falling on hard times you may want to ask yourself, "What's next for my career?"

Smart professionals are taking their talents and moving them to jobs that can help improve the environment and a growing number of career-changers are trading in their nine-to-fives for jobs more in line with their convictions and concerns for the environment. These "green-collar jobs" are on the rise and the current tally of 8.5 million U.S. jobs in renewable-energy and energy-efficiency industries could grow to as many as 40 million by 2030, according to a report commissioned by the American Solar Energy Society.

President Obama has laid out an aggressive plan to implement new "Green" technologies starting with government buildings and public schools. This will require scores of experienced workers who can put to use the skills they've acquired in more established fields such as construction, finance, and marketing. In some cases, the high demand for green career changers translates into a larger paycheck. But more often, the satisfaction of making a positive difference in the world is enough of a boost.

Many people are tired of their jobs and know they want to give back to the environment, but have no idea where to look for a green collar job.Fortunately companies like NuCo USA have put together comprehensive training programs geared toward those seeking a career changing "Green" job. This is the best place to start to take the next step in your career.