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.