Pre-Application

Information Packet

Solar Ready Vets Program Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the Solar Ready Vets solar workforce training program, applicants must:

Be interested in the solar industry and have interest in pursuing a career or additional education in solar.

Have completed the Transition Assistance Program. Be within 120 days of exit from military service at the start of training (can be within 180 days to apply

for the training). Be willing to use no more than 2 months of their GI Bill benefits to attend the course. Participate in all course and training activities for the full duration of the program*. (Absences from

training must be approved by base command and coursework made up with the training instructors on the Applicant’s personal time.)

Have a signed endorsement by your Commanding Officer or designated authority on command letterhead.

Provide with application a copy of your “Member Data Summary” from your Electronic Service Record (ESR).

Provide with application your 1-2 page resume. Participate in course evaluations and post-course follow-up surveys (conducted via phone or email) for

employment and relocation tracking and program feedback for up to 1 year after graduation. Have reviewed the information packet provided by your career counselor prior to completing the

application.

Solar Ready Vets Curriculum Overview The Purpose of the Solar Ready Vets (SRV) Program is to:

prepare transitioning service members for careers in the solar industry provide skilled workers with high quality training to meet industry demands build solar training capacity for local training providers, particularly community colleges

Program Design: The minimum four-week SRV program includes four sets of program learning goals aligned around (1) the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Entry Level Exam (NABCEP ELE); (2) hands-on experience with solar system site analysis, design, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance; (3) Safety issues unique to solar plus OSHA 10 or 30 (chosen at discretion of installation and training provider); (4) Transition planning and individual support of entry into the solar industry. These goals, and the learning objectives associate with each, are pursued in parallel during the course. Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be:

knowledgeable of fundamental photovoltaic systems, concepts, and learning objectives defined by the NABCEP.

experienced in core processes of solar PV projects including basic site analysis, system design, system assembly, commissioning, inspection, maintenance, and financial analysis.

familiar with the solar industry, career paths, and job opportunities that leverage their unique skills, traits, and interests.

certified as completing either OSHA 10 or 30 Safety training. required to sit for the NABCEP Entry Level Exam.

Course Materials: Course materials include handouts to support note taking during class presentations and activities, online materials and resources, and the course textbook, “Photovoltaic Systems”, 3rd Edition by James Dunlap. Hands-on Learning Experiences and Labs: The SRV program provides hand-on experience using actual PV systems. Four sets of equipment are required for select activities including site analysis, electrical measurement devices and systems for assembly (grid tied/grounded, micro inverter, battery systems). At least one permanent system with monitoring data should also be accessible to students, and one nearby utility scale system (preferably on base) is suggested for case study and site visit purposes. Successful Completion: Participants will be granted permission to participate in the culminating hiring event and graduation based upon:

participation in daily course activities and required content. completion of daily quizzes and a mid-term examination. demonstration of career planning, resume, and interview skills. completion of NABCEP Entry Level Exam.

Jobs in the Solar Industry

The American solar industry is growing at a tremendous rate. Over the last several years, the sector has consistently added jobs at a much faster rate than the rest of the economy. The solar industry represents a great opportunity for many transitioning military personnel – solar companies interested in hiring regularly seek out veterans due to their discipline, work ethic, experience, and ability to learn new skills. According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), there are four main categories of solar jobs:

1. Manufacturing The manufacturing sector combines elements of engineering and electronics to create efficient and reliable solar products. Solar manufacturing is a good fit for those with a knack for wiring and a passion for creating quality products.

2. System Design System design requires knowledge of software and coding and the inventiveness to design innovative products. System designers – must have the vision and critical thinking skills to create new products and mechanisms that will move solar energy forward.

3. Project Development After a solar PV product is designed and manufactured, the next step is deploying the technology. Project development entails assessing sites for solar suitability, marketing the products, and selling the products to customers.

4. Installation & Operations The final step of delivering solar products to customers is through installation and operations. This sector entails being part of a team of solar technicians that works together to install products in an efficient and consumer-friendly way. Installers are often the face of the operation – they are the team members who directly interact with the customer. Safe installation and product maintenance is vital to obtaining customer loyalty, making installation teams a crucial part of the proliferation of the solar industry.

For more detailed information about specific jobs within each of these categories, please see IREC’s solar career map at www.irecsolarcareermap.org.

Courtesy of DOE/NREL

The Solar Jobs Census series is a product of The Solar Foundation®, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase understanding of solar energy through strategic research that educates the public and transforms markets. The most recent installment of the National Solar Jobs Census found that the U.S. solar industry currently employs 208,859 workers, a figure which represents 20.2% growth in employment over the previous year. This growth rate makes 2015 the third consecutive year in which employment increased by 20% or more. Since TSF first began tracking solar employment in 2010, the industry has grown by 123%, resulting in nearly 115,000 new, well-paying, domestic jobs. In 2012, TSF began estimating solar employment in each of the 50 states, and introduced stand-alone Census reports for select states the following two years. This factsheet summarizes the results from the 2015 State Solar Jobs Census effort.

State of the States Solar jobs continue to grow across the country, almost 12 times faster than the overall economy since 2014, and most states continue to see robust solar development. Thirty-three states (including the District of Columbia) saw positive growth over the past year. While this growth was observed in all regions of the country, solar employment is more concentrated today, with the Top-2 solar states accounting for over 50% of the employment growth since 2014. As in previous years, California continues to lead in both solar employment and installed solar capacity. Of the 75,598 solar workers in the state, 60% are employed in the installation sector. By the end of 2016, California is expected to account for over 90,000 solar workers. Massachusetts retained its position as the second-largest solar employer in the U.S. and passed the 15,000 solar workers benchmark. Colorado edged out Ohio to move into the top-10 in total solar jobs. Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Nebraska were the top-3 in solar job growth since 2014. Utah’s solar workforce grew an estimated 76.8%, propelling the state 8 places in the solar states rankings from #27 into the top-20.

Visit SolarStates.org for our 51-state Compendium report & 14 stand-alone state reports, including solar jobs data at the metro, county, and district levels; and check out

TSFcensus.org for our National Solar Jobs Census 2015.

STATE SOLAR JOBS CENSUS 2015

A Deeper Dive Since 2013, TSF has produced stand-alone state reports. In 2014, TSF included district-level data for 3 states – California, Arizona, and Minnesota – and in 2014, TSF produced full reports for 6 states – California, Arizona, Texas, New York, Georgia and Maryland. This year, TSF produced 14 stand-alone Solar Jobs Census reports (for AZ, CA, CO, FL, MA, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, TX, UT, and VT) and a 51-state Compendium report, which includes Census data for all 50 states and features regional summaries for each of the nine divisions. Finally, TSF has produced MSA, county, and federal and state Congressional district data for all 50 states.

Key Data from the State Census reports

Highest % Solar Jobs Growth:

1. Rhode Island, 2. South Carolina, 3. Nebraska,

4. Tennessee, 5. Louisiana.

Most Solar Jobs Per Capita:

1. Nevada 2. Massachusetts, 3. Vermont, 4. Hawaii,

5.. California

Highest % Solar Capacity Growth 2014-15 (estimated):

1. South Carolina, 2. Utah, 3. Georgia, 4. Oregon,

5. New Hampshire.

THE SOLAR FOUNDATION®

600 14th Street, NW, Ste.400 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 469-3750 www.TheSolarFoundation.org

View statistics for all 50 states in our interactive map: www.SolarStates.org

2014 estimates of solar employment for all states except AZ, CA, GA, MD, NY, and TX were produced using a carefully developed dual

methodology. It is important to note that while the 2014 and 2015 methodologies differ, the results derived from the Census 2015 approach are

statistically significant and, therefore, more credible.

State Solar Workers

2015 Solar Workers

2014 Rank

2015 (2014) Jobs per Capita

Rank 2015 Jobs per Capita

Rank 2014

CA 75,598 54,690 1 5 5

MA 15,095 9,400 2 2 7

NV 8,764 5,900 3 (7) 1 1

NY 8,250 7,300 4 21 21

NJ 7,071 7,200 5 12 9

TX 7,030 7,000 6 34 36

AZ 6,922 9,170 7 (3) 7 6

FL 6,560 4,800 8 (9) 28 38

NC 5,950 5,600 9 (8) 15 11

CO 4,998 4,200 10 (11) 8 8

OH 4,811 4,300 11 (10) 22 22

MD 4,269 3,000 12 (13) 14 14

TN 3,798 2,200 13 (18) 16 25

IL 3,483 3,800 14 (12) 33 33

GA 3,185 2,900 15 (14) 30 32

OR 2,999 2,100 16 (20) 13 12

HI 2,814 2,200 17 (18) 4 2

MI 2,779 2,100 18 (20) 32 43

UT 2,679 1,500 19 (27) 10 23

PA 2,498 2,800 20 (15) 40 40

Top Twenty Solar Jobs States - 2015 SolarStates.org

States Gaining Ground In addition to California and Massachusetts: Nevada, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, and Utah are among the top 20 solar jobs states that grew by 30% or more. Since The Solar Foundation began estimating state-level solar employment in 2012, nearly half the states in the nation have doubled (or more) the size of their solar workforce. Thirty-three states (including the District of Columbia) saw positive growth over 2014. The 2015 Census reports also show parallel growth in the total amount of installed capacity.

TOP 10 SOLAR STATESState ranking based on the amount of cumulative solar electric capacity installed,(as of March 2016)

Learn more at seia.org/smi

Installed in 2014 (MW)1

Homes powered by solar2 (35,000 homes)

(an estimate of the number of homes powered per megawatt of solar capacity installed, including both photovoltaic and concentrating solar power)

TOP 10 SOLAR STATES REMIXED

Get solar data from the SEIA/GTM Solar Market Insight Report. Learn more at SEIA.org/smi

(1) SEIA/GTM Research U.S. Solar Market Insight 2015 Year in Review - seia.org/smi(2) SEIA, “What’s In a Megawatt?” - seia.org/whats-megawatt(3) The Solar Foundation, State Solar Jobs Census - solarstates.org(4) SEIA/GTM Research U.S. Solar Market Insight 2015 Year in Review; U.S. Census Bureau(5) EIA Electric Power Monthly © SEIA 2016

California1

3,319,000homes

North Carolina3

2,087MW

223,000homes

Nevada5

1,240MW

New York7

638MW

108,000homes

Colorado9

540MW

103,000homes

Texas10

534MW

57,000homes

Hawaii8

564MW

146,000homes

Massachusetts6

1,020MW

163,000homes

New Jersey4

1,632MW

257,000homes

191,000homes

Arizona2

327,000homes

2,303MW

Reigning Champ Solar Oasis

Soaking upthe Sun Tri-State Solar

Powerhouse

Solar All Stars Mile-HighSolar

Solar ParadiseThe Solar Lone StarA Solar State

of Mind

Powering the Internet

13,241MW

Percentage of New Electrical Capacity from Solar5

123456789

10

100%100%100%100%100%100%

100%

100%100%99%

AlabamaHawaii

LouisianaMississippi

MontanaNebraska

South Carolina

TennesseeWisonsin

Vermont

Number of Solar Jobs3

123456789

10

California

Massachusetts

Nevada

New York

New Jersey

Texas

Arizona

Florida

North Carolina

Colorado

75,598 15,095 8,764 8,250 7,071 7,030 6,922 6,560 5,9504,998

Solar Capacity Per Capita (watts/person)4

123456789

10

Nevada

Hawaii

California

Arizona

North CarolinaNew Jersey

New Mexico

Vermont

Massachusetts

Colorado

429 394 338 337 206 182 175 171 15099

Solar Capacity Installed in 2015 (MW)1

123456789

10

California

North Carolina

Nevada

Massachusetts

New York

Arizona

Utah

Georgia

Texas

New Jersey

3,2661,364

417286

241234231

209207181

Additional Resources and Helpful Links for Solar Ready Vets and Solar Industry

The Solar Foundation releases an annual report that reviews the solar energy workforce in the United States. This report, cited as the most credible collection of solar jobs data in the nation, breaks down key workforce information by job type, state, salary, and other factors. Find it here: http://www.thesolarfoundation.org/national/

Not all states’ solar markets are equally strong. Different states have different sizes of solar workforces, and some states naturally offer more solar potential than others. The Solar Energy Industries Association released a report detailing the top states in solar, which can be found here: http://www.seia.org/research-resources/top-10-solar-states

To demonstrate one’s knowledge, ability, and interest in working in the solar industry, taking the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) entry-level exam is an important step. Successful completion of this exam indicates knowledge of solar principles and applications. More information about the exam can be found here: http://www.nabcep.org/entry-level-program-2

The discipline, teamwork, and work ethic learned during military service makes transitioning service members ideal candidates for many solar job openings. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council has assembled a group of solar jobs that are especially good fits for veterans - http://www.irecusa.org/2011/01/solar-a-new-family-value/

The Department of Energy’s website has a page dedicated to the Solar Ready Vets program, which can be found here: http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/solar-ready-vets. The page highlights the main points of the program and the different base locations.