Leaving corp America for Solar Technolgies...where do i begin?

[mspahn77]

So, I've worked in corporate america for 15 years...and quite honestly, I hate it. I hate coming to work everyday, though thankful for my job and income it provides me and my family, I'd rather do something I'm passionate about.

I've remodeled every house I've owned, done all my own work from electrical to plumbing to drywall and construction. Honestly I'm really good at all of it, and I like doing it. I'm looking for something more however. I want to challenge myself and be a part of the era that helps to lighten the reliance on natural resources.

Our local CC offers a certificate program in Solar Thermal Technology. And I've found what looks to be a good course online from Solar Energy Inc....but is that something I need? Will it look better for me to have a certificate, or should I just start at the bottom somewhere and learn as I go?

Any suggestions from people out there doing this already would be greatly appreciated!

[Naptown]

The CC courses are good but what really counts is NABCEP certification which you cannot get until you have a few installs under your belt.
Try to find a job first and take the courses concurrent with working. This will be the shortest way to certification.

[russ]

So, I've worked in corporate america for 15 years...and quite honestly, I hate it. I hate coming to work everyday,

I think the guys in the solar business will tell you it is a tough business - it includes going to work every day as well.

[mspahn77]

I think the guys in the solar business will tell you it is a tough business - it includes going to work every day as well.

Thank you so much for the condescending note...truly appreciated. If you've ever hated a job, you would know what I meant...maybe you're lucky enough to have always been doing work you loved.

[mspahn77]

The CC courses are good but what really counts is NABCEP certification which you cannot get until you have a few installs under your belt.
Try to find a job first and take the courses concurrent with working. This will be the shortest way to certification.

Thanks Rich...that sounds like a plan. In my research I've found a couple guys locally so I'll hit them up as well. The certificate program does say that it prepares you for the NABCEP, but much like anything, I am a 100% believer in hands on experience.

[Sunking]

NABCEP will get you a conversation in any coffee shop if you have a dollar for the cup of coffee. A Electrical License gets you a job and allows to to pull permits, pass inspection and work for hire. When Solar crashes and burns, with a Electrical License you still have a job. With NABCEP you are unemployed and can no longer afford a cup of coffee to start a conversation.

Even better is a 4 year degree in Electrical Engineering and obtain your PE. You will make 6 digits/year salary and retire at a young age if you want.

[russ]

Thank you so much for the condescending note...truly appreciated. If you've ever hated a job, you would know what I meant...maybe you're lucky enough to have always been doing work you loved.

The guys working solar sales & installation here are all looking at what their future job will be - this is a really lousy time to get into the field.

[Naptown]

Being in sales and installation the outlook is good. At least through the day before the next inauguration. If the current incumbent is reelected we can pretty much figure on another 4 years. If the opposition is elected we could be looking at 1983 all over again. At that point if it comes to that there is not enough time to get trained formally, gather enough service experience and create a service base to survive. The service base is better in Hot water systems as there is scheduled maintenance and moving parts to go wrong. PV hasn't been out there long enough in enough volume to predict how much service there will be.

[Sunking]

At least through the day before the next inauguration. If the current incumbent is reelected we can pretty much figure on another 4 years.

I do not think the election will have any bearing what so ever on Solar future. On the Federal level the only support for consumers is the 30% tax credit, and that is already scheduled to expire in 2016. The POTUS does not have the authority to make Tax laws, that job falls on Congress. The POTUS can certainly have influence and spend political capital to get what he wants put into the tax code, but at the end of the day the POTUS can only sign or Veto a tax bill made by Congress.

The Fed does not mandate or have any influence on the States policy to do anything with respect to solar or RE incentives. It is the State Legislator that makes the State policy the POTUS election has nothing to do with that. Electric companies, state, and local government incentives, rebates, net metering are all state and local mandated policy/law.

[bcarpman]

I got into Solar PV two years ago thinking it was such an exciting, growing field. It's been very interesting, and yes, it's growing, but I've learned a couple of things that might be helpful to you and others:

1. It's a chaotic industry. I've worked with over 200 installers, and they come and go as fast as I can update my database. Changing regulatory and incentive programs play havoc on the small guy! Even the best ones suffer at times.

2. From what I've seen here in CA (surely different elsewhere) the ONLY installers that do ok are the ones that have hooked up with leasing programs. It's the way of the future. For comparison, imagine trying to be a car dealer that only deals in cash sales?

3. I've worked in states that are new to solar and in CA where everyone is VERY experienced. While utilities in other states may not have a clue yet, it won't be long before they all catch up with what the utilities have learned here in CA: you can't fight alternative energy, it's coming one way or the other and you can either embrace it or lose. What this means is that the future of solar is unlikely to be in distributed, home owned systems (unfortunately). The utilities only make money when they get to own or run the larger installations. What that means is that future incentives are likely to go directly to the big guys, making it even harder for the smaller installer.

Just my $.02 Hope it helps. Good luck either way.