Posted by Ray Johnson on Mon, May 14, 2012 @ 10:43 AM
It’s started to happen already. America has begun mobilizing its troops for the green revolution.
This movement is still very much in its infancy – but it’s growing steadily. People are beginning to realize the tremendous influence our men and women in uniform can have in building a cleaner and greener future.
The Veterans Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) already provides career guidance on how to break into the solar industry. If you’re a veteran, your local VA office should have literature explaining how to use the VWIP’s resources when searching for solar career opportunities. Contact your representative to learn more – especially if you already have solar training under your belt.
But what if you don’t already have training in solar PV installation or related fields?
The Need for a GI Bill Solar Education Provider
Although solar-focused career guidance is becoming more mainstream, there is a dearth of solar training programs that actually accept veterans benefits in lieu of tuition.
This is unfortunate.
In the absence of certified GI Bill solar education providers, the marriage between military and solar energy will never be complete. Only veterans who have sufficient money will be able to take part in the green revolution.
So much potential exists, and yet, we’re unable to tap into this huge workforce of men and women who want to continue serving their country.
We’ve got good news however.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of approving a select number of programs to help prepare veterans for careers in the solar PV industry.
That’s correct – soon you’ll be able to pay for your solar training with VA benefits.
And why not? You can already use your VA benefits to pay for nursing, computer science, automotive repair, and countless other professions. Why shouldn’t you be able to pay for your solar training with VA benefits as well?
When will the list of GI Bill solar education providers come out?
Soon – very soon – the exact dates have not been set. But if you pre-register on our solar VA benefits waiting list, you’ll be the first to know.
For all civilian inquiries into solar installation training, please contact us at US Solar Institute directly.
Posted by Ray Johnson on Thu, May 10, 2012 @ 11:24 AM
At its newly renovated campus in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, US Solar Institute (USSI) will cohost its solar PV electrical training seminar with Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
The workshop, held from June 18 to 22 of this year, will focus on the electrical code and how it applies to solar PV installations. USSI’s lead instructor and President, Ray Johnson, will co-lead the 5-day training with UL’s Senior Electrical Instructor, Mark Ode.
USSI designed this special course to address some of the safety issues often overlooked by more mainstream solar PV installation courses.
By partnering with the industry’s leading safety authority (Underwriters Laboratories), USSI hopes to provide a platform in which electricians, electrical contractors, and solar PV installers can explore the 2011 National Electric Code (NEC) and its many intricacies.
According to Johnson, “Mark is literally one of the most knowledgeable electricians on the National Electric Code Book’s subject matter – he’s been a panelist for the book for 25 years.” He adds, “Our students are lucky to have this opportunity – and we’re lucky to have the honor to provide the stage.”
The solar PV installation training will include over 30kW’s of bi-modal, grid-tied and off-grid live operating system instruction using state-of-the-art solar equipment provided by some of the top names in the business. Students will have an opportunity to work with components supplied by Solar Edge, SMA, Xantrex, Fronius, Outback, Solar Pathfinder, Quick Mount PV, Unirac and Unistrut.
Over the 5-days of specialized instruction, students will cover:
- Engineering solar system size, cost, and performance
- System maintenance and operation
- BOS type, size, and selection
- Safety start-up sequences
- 2011 NEC, article 690
- Solar disconnecting
- Conductors & OCP
- And more...
Those who complete the 5-day electrical code training will be prepared to sit for the UL Certified Solar Installer Exam – the highest individual recognition within the solar industry. The next scheduled exam will be offered on the last day of the USSI-UL joint training.
Held from June 18-22, 2012, this one-time UL Certified Solar Installer Preparation Course is being offered at a discounted rate of $1,695.
Students wishing to sign-up for the UL Certified Solar Installer Exam must register by May 22. IAEI members will receive a special discount for both.
For full details about the course, please visit UL Certified Solar Installer Preparation Course Registration.
For all other inquiries or to learn about other USSI solar PV installation training opportunities in Florida, please visit www.ussolarinstitute.com.
About US Solar Institute
US Solar Institute is licensed by the Florida Department of Education to offer PV diplomas, the Florida Department of Businesses and Professional Regulation, and the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board as a continuing education provider. US Solar Institute is also a partner of Underwriter Laboratories and a NABCEP PV Exam provider.
About Underwriters Laboratories
UL is a global, independent organization dedicated to promoting safer living and working environments through the application of safety science and hazard-based safety engineering. Its expertise and certification are globally recognized.
Posted by Ray Johnson on Thu, May 10, 2012 @ 07:00 AM
Over the past few months, I can count at least two fires that were a direct result of faulty solar PV installations – one in Pennsylvania and another in New Jersey.
On the surface, two solar fires is not a whole lot – not when you consider how many diesel generators, power lines, and automobile gas tanks start blazes every day across the country. And neither of these fires was even in Florida, so why should we be concerned?
But in this post-Solyndra era when the entire solar industry is struggling to improve its image, we can’t afford to make mistakes – especially mistakes that could easily have been prevented with additional safety and electricity training.
Is Electricity Training Really the Problem?
I know what you’re thinking – does the PV industry really need more electrical certification? In Florida, we’ve already got NABCEP plus plenty of other solar PV installation and electricity safety exams.
The short answer is – yes, we do need more.
For starters, most electrical certification requirements aren’t even actual “requirements.” You don’t have to take any electricity training or safety courses to become a solar PV installer in Florida. Most other states are equally relaxed on their policies as well.
To become a hairdresser, you need to be licensed. To work with high voltage electrical equipment, you don’t need anything.
That’s the first problem.
The second problem is that so much of today’s “voluntary” electrical certification and installation training are largely insufficient.
Take the two fires for example. There’s a really good chance that many of the installers on these two roofs completed some type of solar training. Many of them probably also passed the entry level NABCEP exam. And a handful of them may have even had some very basic electricity training at the local level, either through a solar PV installation school or dedicated electrical certification program.
And yet, two easily preventable fires erupted nonetheless.
Every part of this equation needs to change. For the PV industry to continue flourishing, we need compulsory electrical certification and much stricter standards in the safety and electricity training that we provide – not just in Florida but also across the entire country.
Why We Support the UL Certified Solar Installer Examination
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is the gold standard for safety – especially as it relates to electricity training. This is why back in 2010 we partnered with UL to provide specialized preparation for their Certified Solar Installer Examination.
This June, we’ll co-host a special 5-day electrical code seminar with UL’s Senior Engineering Instructor, Mark Ode. The electricity training will include topics ranging from safety start-up sequences to article 690 of the 2011 National Electric Code.
That Mr. Ode was a panelist for the National Electric Code Book for 25 years should explain why we place so much stock in his credentials.
To the best of my knowledge, no other solar PV training school in Florida or elsewhere offers this level of preparation. And while we’re honored to have Mr. Ode as a guest lecturer, it’s a shame that such honors are so rare. We should be fighting for this level of electrical certification in Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and anywhere else solar panels are being installed.
Posted by Austin Brentley on Wed, May 09, 2012 @ 11:37 AM
This story is continued from Part 1 of "Why Are There So Many Solar Jobs in Florida and the Rest of the Country?"
Reason 3: Solar Energy Is Visible
On a lazy Sunday drive, you might see a wind farm or two. Drive a little further, and you might see an ethanol-processing center on the horizon.
Not so with solar energy.
It’s visible everywhere, and thus, always in the public’s mind. Highway road signs, rooftop systems, government installations, even handheld calculators – each one of these visible symbols creates more buzz about solar energy. They get people excited about the technology, about green policies, about renewable energy jobs, about Mother Earth.
So when homeowners and businesses start reviewing their green options, solar naturally comes out on top…almost like an infectious commercial jingle dancing around in the back of their minds.
Reason 4: Your Government Loves Solar Energy
Solar energy benefits from a range of green incentives that have accumulated over the years, from feed-in tariffs to tax credits to rebates. Even the Recovery Act included some solar love.
Sadly, many of these solar incentives are set to expire. But ultimately, they accomplished exactly what they set out to do – boost renewable energy investment across the country. In fact, we outspent China in green technology last year for the first time in two years. This activity helps to explain why renewable energy jobs – solar especially – are still on the rise in Florida… even during a recession.
A quick note: some people think it’s unfair that solar energy receives so much government support. They point to Solyndra-style failures to support these claims.
To this we offer two rebuttals.
1. The oil and gas industry receives a ton of direct and indirect federal funding, despite having some of the most profitable enterprises in human history. Some of the biggest players don’t even pay taxes, and yet, we still use our tax dollars to prop them up.
2. Solyndra was a failure. No doubt about it. But what about the Exxon Valdez or the BP oil spill? Solyndar imploded and took a lot of our public money along the way. Exxon and BP exploded, not only taking our tax dollars, but also robbing us of entire ecosystems. The only jobs to emerge from these disasters were in environmental clean-up and corporate clean-up (i.e. public relations).
Expect Even More Solar Jobs in the Years to Come
When you factor in all of these reasons, it’s easy to see why solar jobs in Florida are on the rise. In fact, we’re even facing a solar labor gap. That’s right – at a time when so many people are out of work, solar installation firms all over America are constantly searching for qualified professionals to help install the technology.
This means that you don’t even have to live in sunny Florida to benefit from the current boom in solar jobs. After completing your 5-day photovoltaic training at US Solar Institute, you can take your newfound skills back home and begin installing solar panels there.
Posted by Austin Brentley on Tue, May 08, 2012 @ 11:38 AM
Last year, the national economy grew a sluggish 7%, while the solar industry grew a whopping 7% over the same period.
In a time of high unemployment, 7,000 new solar jobs emerged across the country, many of them, not surprisingly in Florida – the Sunshine State.
What is exactly behind this sudden burst of solar jobs?
Obviously, as the entire industry expands, new positions emerge. But why is the solar industry expanding so quickly – especially when green energy jobs in wind, biogas, and even nuclear don’t appear to exhibit the same growth?
Experts continue to debate the issue, citing numerous reasons. They’re probably all correct to varying degrees. But we’ve come up with our own list of reasons behind this boom in solar projects, solar investments, and solar jobs in Florida and beyond.
Reason 1: The Great Silicon Dump
Silicon – one of the most abundant materials on the planet – has never been cheaper. A few years ago, solar PV manufacturers all over the world geared up for what they believed would be an incredible explosion of solar activity.
They weren’t wrong – but because they were all doing it at once, we now have a global oversupply of refined silicon and many of the parts used to manufacturer solar photovoltaic systems.
In just two years, the price of solar modules has dropped 50%. While these price drops have hurt many manufacturers around the globe, the technology has become cheaper for everyone else.
Many businesses and homeowners who were on the fence about solar energy two years ago now feel that the investment is more than justified. Hence, more solar orders, more solar contracts, and more solar jobs.
Reason 2: Solar Energy is Scalable
When times are good, businesses invest in mega projects. New coal plants, nuclear power stations, and colossal solar farms are totally in vogue when the economy is booming. But during leaner days, we’re all a little more prudent.
This is the beauty of solar energy.
You don’t need to devote huge tracts of land or invest gazillions in order to use the technology. Simply install panels when and where you need them – and scale up as necessary.
Whereas nuclear power plants and solar farms can take years to build (during which time you generate zero energy and spend tons of money), solar panels on a rooftop or backyard are operational on Day 1.
This type of scalability lends itself well to hard times. Homeowners and businesses can install the technology in small chunks – if and when they have the money. This means that even during a down economy, solar jobs continue to grow.
Contrast this with renewable energy jobs in other technologies. You typically need substantial investments and huge plots of land to get a wind farm or geothermal plant up and running.
No money – no projects. No projects – no renewable energy jobs.
Tune in tomorrow to read Part 2 of "Why Are There So Many Solar Jobs in Florida and the Rest of the Country?"
Posted by Ray Johnson on Mon, May 07, 2012 @ 03:42 PM
Professional training used to be the path to salvation.
- Enroll in a school
- Take on a little debt
- Party and study
- Graduate
- Enter the workforce
- Pay off your student loans
- Start saving for retirement
But with the economy being what it is, an alarming number of students graduate with zero job prospects, a mountain of debt, and fancy degrees or certificates that don’t really open any doors.
In Florida, a whopping 8% of students actually default on their loans.
Solar Panel Installation Training – Student Debt You Can Afford
Not all educational opportunities and corresponding loans are created equal. While an MBA degree may be a ticket to the poorhouse, there are many professional certifications that actually do open doors – right away.
It’s just a matter of finding training opportunities that:
- Don’t cost a lot
- Don’t require oodles of time to complete
- Actually lead to well-paying, in-demand jobs
If you live in renewable energy hotspots like California, New Jersey, or Florida, solar panel installation training is one such educational option that actually ends up paying for itself.
How is that exactly?
Solar Energy Training in Florida Is Affordable
For starters, solar panel installation training is affordable enough to pay with a credit card.
Now, you may have a ton of credit card debt already (don’t we all), but $1,000 to $2,000 is a far cry from the tens of thousands of dollars that most students end up having to pay when they graduate from 2- and 4-year institutions.
For the price of a new computer or flat-screen TV, you can receive professional solar panel installation training that keeps you employed for decades.
What’s more, there are a lot of additional ways that you can cover the cost of your solar energy training.
In some cases, future employers will help defray the cost, provided that you work with them for a set number of years. If you’re member of a construction, electrical, or safety union, your local chapter might help with the bill. And don’t forget military benefits. As part of the GI Bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs may pay for some or all of your solar panel installation training.
Solar Energy Training in Florida Is Fast
How long would it take you to register for the SATs, write your personal statement, fill out a financial aid form, and gather up academic and professional references to apply to your local university?
A month? A couple of weeks? 5 business days?
In that time, you could have completed solar panel installation training with an accredited program licensed by the Florida Department of Education. Days after “deciding” to enroll in a solar energy training program, you could already be in the workforce.
Solar Panel Installation Training Leads to In-Demand Jobs
The #1 obstacle to solar growth? Lack of qualified professionals. That’s right. Even during an unemployment crisis across the country, there is a renewable energy labor gap. Solar installation firms are desperately seeking new talent to satisfy growing demand from businesses and homeowners.
This labor gap is nationwide so you can potentially work anywhere. And you don’t actually have to live in Florida, California, or New Jersey to receive your training. At US Solar Institute, we receive students from New York, Jamaica, and beyond who complete their solar panel installation training in Florida and go back home less than a week later.
In, out, and hired – without a lot of debt. And with hourly wages ranging from $12 to $25, you can potentially pay for your entire solar education within 2 standard workweeks (fewer than 80 hours).
If you’re interested in affordable, valuable, and in-demand training, we can help.
Posted by Austin Brentley on Thu, May 03, 2012 @ 11:07 AM
In many solar hotspots around the world, policy is one of the primary drivers behind widespread renewable energy adoption. In Germany, Ontario, Florida, and Japan, for example, politicians have successfully enacted a range of solar incentives to boost photovoltaic installations.
But in Jamaica, this type of government involvement may not be necessary. The island nation’s solar boom appears to be driven by factors as natural as… well… as natural as sunshine.
What Is Driving Jamaica’s Solar Growth?
Over the past year, solar cell costs have fallen by nearly 50%. However, falling PV prices alone probably wouldn’t be sufficient to drive renewable energy deployment across Jamaica. Another phenomenon is helping to fuel growing interest in solar technology – the rising cost of oil.
Currently at $102 a barrel, crude oil prices are largely responsible for the country’s trade deficit. Jamaica actually spends more on imported fuel than it makes from all of its exports combined.
Taken together, cheaper panels and pricier oil have radically transformed payback periods for solar PV installations in Jamaica. Prior to this convergence, one might have to wait 20 years before breaking even. Now, some advocates believe that solar installations can pay for themselves in just 6 or 7 years.
Once you understand these numbers, the rest kind of falls into place. When payback periods becomes three times shorter, it’s reasonable to expect a corresponding increase in green investment, PV imports, and solar energy courses throughout Jamaica.
And that’s exactly what has started happening.
Solar Energy Courses Coming to Jamaica
US Solar Institute (USSI) in nearby Florida has always received a trickle of students from the Caribbean. But in recent months, that trickle has become a stream – one heavy enough to warrant opening a new branch office in Kingston to offer solar energy courses in Jamaica.
“We’ve trained many Jamaican students already, but the country needs a lot more installers if it wants to move off fossil fuel,” says lead instructor and USSI President, Ray Johnson. “By providing solar energy courses in Jamaica, we’ll build the necessary green workforce much faster than we can from Florida.”
USSI plans on launching its new solar installation training campus within the coming months – in time to help build a 24MW solar farm scheduled for Paradise Park, Jamaica later in 2012.
“We’re already in discussions with the original equipment manufacturer to provide the labor and PV installation training for this solar farm,” says Johnson. “With so many of our graduates already in Jamaica, the timing couldn’t be better.”
Students interested in solar energy courses today (before the Jamaican move) should contact USSI directly.
Posted by Ray Johnson on Wed, May 02, 2012 @ 12:29 PM
We receive this question a lot - “What is the difference between solar installation certification and a solar installation certificate?”
The distinction is important because there is no shortage of solar installation schools across the country – many of them excellent, many of them not.
Before signing up, you want to know that you’re receiving training that will actually lead to long-term employment as a professional solar installer. Understanding the difference between certification and certificate is an important step in this process.
Solar Installation Certification – What Is It?
Solar installation certification is official recognition by a third party organization that accredits, licenses, or regulates the broader photovoltaic, electrical, safety, or educational industries.
In the state of Florida, solar installation certification requires that you meet broadly accepted standards established by any number of agencies, including NABCEP, Underwriters Laboratories, the Department of Education, local school boards, electrical authorities, contractor associations, or similarly themed organizations.
This same general formula applies if you live outside of Florida – solar installation certification typically requires external backing for it to be 100% legitimate.
Solar Installation Certificate – What Is It?
Solar installation certificates don’t carry the same weight as “certification.”
Why?
Because anyone, and I do mean anyone, with a computer can print out a certificate. Gold leaf, fancy calligraphy, watermarks, raised seals, and countless other enhancements don’t make solar installation certificates official – they just make them “look” cool.
Does This Mean That Solar Installation Certificates Are Worthless?
So if solar energy certificates are not official documents recognized by other parties, does this make them useless?
Not necessarily.
Solar installation certificates are terrific for putting on your resume.
In fact, we regularly (and proudly) hand out our own certificates at the end of our solar PV training courses. It’s important that we commemorate the successful completion of our modules.
But…
Our solar energy certificates are more than just pieces of paper. They are official documents backed by the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Department of Businesses and Professional Regulation, and the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.
In fact, we’re the only licensed, dedicated solar PV training school in the world, so naturally, we tend to feel that our solar installation certificates carry at least some weight – in Florida and abroad.
But this weight doesn’t come from arrogance or wishful thinking. Rather - our solar installation certificates carry weight because we’re licensed to provide solar installation certification.
Don’t Be Fooled by Clever Marketing & Gimmicks
When you see “100% Natural” on food packaging, do you read the ingredients? I definitely do. I like to know – 100% natural “what” exactly.
I encourage you to use this same approach when selecting solar PV training schools. When programs advertise solar energy certificates, always ask what organizations, if any, recognize these credentials.
The answer may just surprise you.
Posted by Ray Johnson on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 @ 05:07 AM
You’re undoubtedly familiar with military recruiters visiting high schools and college campuses to enlist students in the armed forces. Huge debates have raged over the issue, with supporters on both sides of the aisle pointing to everything from free speech to gay rights to the role of federal government in publicly funded schools.
But what about the reverse? What happens when college recruiters visit military installations to enlist active duty personnel and veterans into their universities?
On the surface, it seems like a much fairer deal. After all, Philosophy 101, Solar Energy Fundamentals, and Intro to Chemistry are much safer than active combat. And campus food is generally more palatable than what they serve in the barracks – generally.
But as it turns out, the deal is not as fair as you might believe.
That’s why President Obama just signed an executive order designed to protect military families and veterans from what many believe to be “aggressive and deceptive recruiting” tactics by institutions of higher learning.
The Real Goal of Veterans Affairs and the GI Bill
At issue are the countless military benefits that colleges receive when they enroll veterans and active duty personnel. This is especially true at for-profit universities that receive a disproportionate amount of GI Bill funding due to their higher tuition costs.
In and of itself, receiving extra funding to train veterans is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s what the GI Bill was designed to do. One major problem, however, is that previous versions of the GI Bill made few stipulations about university retention rates. This means that even if a military student drops out right away, the college can still continue to receive some or all of the federal funding.
Loopholes like these incentivized many recruiters to use predatory practices in order to lure military students – even if recruitment was based on false advertising… and even if students only enrolled temporarily. It’s similar to the lending practices used during the housing crisis. The goal was to get signatures – not long-term homeowners.
What kind of predatory practices did universities employ?
- Some colleges erected misleading websites that promised a range of veterans benefits that, in actual fact, did not exist.
- Other schools sent recruiters to military bases to visit soldiers. In some cases, these soldiers were oblivious to what they were signing due to brain injuries sustained in the field.
Treating Our Veterans with Honor – Educating Them with Dignity
Raised in a military family and a long-time solar PV installation instructor of many men and women in uniform, I’m fairly certain that such practices are NOT what the GI Bill and the Department of Veterans Affairs were designed to promote.
We’re talking about people who have selflessly risked their lives to serve and protect our country. If our veterans want to secure nursing degrees or solar PV installation training or diplomas in the culinary arts, we should be there to support them. Offering them affordable education – if and only if they want it – is the very least we can do in return.
I realize that providing education is not cheap – and many schools are strapped for cash. But taking advantage of military families for profit is just wrong. Imagine the outrage if military recruiters went to civilian hospitals and enlisted patients suffering from brain injuries or mental disease.
Regardless of your political leanings, this most recent executive order is one that we should all be applauding.
In the coming weeks, I hope to share some exciting news for any active duty personnel or veterans interested in valuable, transparent, and affordable solar energy career training.
Stay tuned….
Posted by Austin Brentley on Fri, Apr 27, 2012 @ 03:51 PM
According to a recent Pew Charitable Trust report entitled, “Who's Winning the Clean Energy Race,” the United States overtook China in green energy investments during 2011 after lagging behind for the previous two years.
When you add up asset finance, public markets, venture capital, and small distributed investments together, we spent $48.1 billion compared to China’s $45.5 billion.
Part of this growth stems from a number of expiring US incentives. Essentially, developers, manufacturers, and investors in the States rushed to fund pipelined projects in order to take advantage of renewable energy tax breaks and rebates that were about to be shelved.
In other words, green energy bragging rights for 2012 and beyond could very well go back to China now that this last-minute rush is over.
If We Lose Next Year… Who Actually Wins?
In the grand scheme of things, a $3 billion difference in green spending isn’t much. For all intents and purposes, China and the US are neck-and-neck in the renewable energy race.
But is this really a race? After all, races have clear winners and losers.
If you look at the larger picture, any progress in environmental protection or sustainable energy benefits every single person on the planet – even those who make their bread and butter on fossil fuels. Who can argue with cleaner air, more biodiversity, fewer wars, and a healthier planet?
However, if you’re a renewable energy manufacturer in the US, you probably eye China with a touch of disdain. This is especially true if your focus is in solar energy. China has been accused of unfair trading practices, undercutting international competition by artificially lowering its export prices for solar components.
But if you’re anyone else – especially a consumer or solar PV installer – the “winner” of this green spending race may not be as important.
As a consumer, competition is good. Lower prices (artificial or otherwise) are always welcomed. If China spends more this year and US spends more the next, it doesn’t really matter as long as both are spending, developing, manufacturing, and exporting.
As a solar installer, wind turbine technician, or any other type of job that requires on-site maintenance, the indifference is probably similar. It doesn’t really matter where the panels come from as long as consumer and commercial demand continues to create work for you in the here and now.
What consumers and solar PV installers really should be concerned about are the expiring incentives – not the actual “race.” Government support helps to make solar, wind, and other renewables more affordable – regardless of where the technology is manufactured.
So Do Green Bragging Rights Even Matter?
Of course they matter.
The US, with her vast resources and technological leadership should be outspending everyone. We’re only 5% of the global population, but we consume 20% of the world’s energy.
That’s absurd.
And yes, of course bragging rights matter since what happens to American solar manufacturers eventually ripples throughout the economy and affects other industries. Remember the housing crisis and auto manufacturing bust?
But most important of all, solar, wind, and biogas bragging rights matter because more US competition will mean even more Chinese competition – and hopefully – vice versa.
Why is this a good thing?
Because we’re trying to create a greener and more sustainable world. The more that we push each other, encourage each other, and compete with each other, the sooner we all reach that world.