Trading Autos for Solar
By Liz Merry
Published: May 19, 2009
Q:
I am a laid-off autoworker from the Detroit area. I am heading back to school for more training and am looking at renewable energy classes. Since my wife and I are not considering relocation, can you give me any insight regarding solar industry, or any other renewable energy industry, employment in this area? I have always had an interest in this field, and now seems like it might be the right time to make the move to that industry. Any help you can offer would be much appreciated. — E.R., Detroit
A:
Your question could be coming from any of the hundreds of thousands of other former auto industry workers now looking for new opportunities. Is the renewable energy industry a real option? How technical is the training required? Once you have the training, will there be good jobs waiting for you?
The short answer is that yes, many more jobs in renewable energy are being created, but there aren’t hundreds of these jobs in your region just yet.
Solar energy jobs can be broadly organized into either manufacturing the equipment or getting it installed.
Installation Jobs
An economy favorable to solar installation is dependent on four key policies: interconnection, net metering, solar incentives and energy prices.
Like many other states, the distributed rooftop solar market in Michigan is in a pre-breakthrough phase — that is, the factors needed to support a sustainable distributed generation industry are just now coming into place. Net metering will soon be implemented for systems of 20 kilowatts (kW) and smaller, and electricity rates — while low (averaging 9 to 11 cents per kWh) should be rising significantly once there is a mandated price on carbon emissions. These two factors, along with the 30 percent federal tax credit now available to all customers, should accelerate your solar installation market starting early next year.
You can review all of Michigan’s policies and incentive programs at dsireusa.org. A first step is to find out who is already installing in Michigan. Many companies are listed on sites like FindSolar.com and GetSolar.com. There are almost 100 solar install companies in Michigan listed on these sites, but only a couple of them are in Detroit.
Manufacturing Jobs
Michigan has fairly aggressive pro-business policies designed to attract manufacturing activity. Your state’s business development site has lots of information about Michigan’s goals and resources for the solar industry: michiganadvantage.org/Targeted-Initiatives/Solar-Energy/Default.aspx. The Solar Electric Industries Association (SEIA) has state summary profiles that list major solar companies here: seia.org/cs/state_fact_sheets. These companies should welcome your experience in manufacturing, and many will provide on-the-job training. However, it will help to open the doors if you first understand how the system equipment works (e.g. modules, inverters, racking, metering equipment).
Training Opportunities
The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) is the American Solar Energy Society and SEIA chapter covering your state, and they have two training opportunities described on their website: glrea.org/seminars.html. I recommend taking one or both of these when they become available. GLREA is hosting a networking event in late May, and their annual Energy Fair in June is another major networking opportunity. The Northwestern Michigan College hosts the Michigan Energy Technology Center, which offers solar training courses ( nmc.edu/ees/energycenter). If you have an electrical background there are three union-affiliated Joint Apprenticeship Training Programs listed on the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s renewable energy training catalog: irecusa.org/trainingCatalog/index.php.
In perusing Michigan websites I noted a ton of regional resources for “re-careering” skills (e.g. resume writing, drafting a plan, interview skills, learning software and other skills that apply to many jobs). A few things seem true about landing a job in any tight job market:
1 | Confidence in yourself and what you are offering the employer is mandatory — you have to know what the employer needs and understand what you’re offering them.
2 | Both a skill set and enthusiasm for the work. Being part of a green energy industry involves making a difference along with making a paycheck, and people want to work with others who understand this intrinsic value.
3 | Training, training, training. The more hands-on experience you have and the more you know about the technology (whether it’s solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, etc…), the better. You may have to travel and/or invest to get training initially, but the learning process itself will help build your network so you are aware of that perfect job when you’re ready to apply for it.
All that said, the solar industry is just like any other business. Opportunities come through personal relationships, and you have to get out there and meet people. Go to the upcoming GLREA events and start sussing out who is working in solar in your area. The investments you make now in training and networking will pay off in the long term (within one to two years) as Michigan turns its industrial sector toward our American renewable energy future.
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