Most of the recent growth is due to the stimulus money. In California, $75 million in stimulus money has launched the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program. This program's goal is to create 20,000 new jobs through training the workforce to move into the renewable energy industry.

In addition to government promotion, demand for cleaner, renewable energy has spawned new business to provide new ways of generating electricity without the use of hydrocarbon. Right now, the race is on to develop sources of renewable solar energy that can compete with hydrocarbon.

It has also spawned the desire for environmentally-friendly products. Consumers have become more environmentally friendly and are willing to spend a little more money on 'green' products.

Solar Jobs

Some of the obvious solar jobs include manufacturing solar panels, solar installation, and selling solar panels.

The companies that provide such work are like any other company, it has an office staff including: marking, sales, customer service, accounting, and administration. Many skills from other industries can be applied in these 'green' solar jobs. The problem with the recession, the demand for these back-office jobs is high. To obtain a less competative job, one should receive solar education in either solar panel sales or solar panel installation.

Whatever each profession decides to do in the solar industry, they can rest assured that the industry is growing. With the level of government support, the industry is expected to continue growing far into the future.

Rich Hessler
Solar Solutions
(949) 208-0221