Looking for ways to harness the power of the sun, but you don't have the dollars to pull it off? Guess what? There are lots of ways to grab the cash and catch the rays to get you started in solar power. Maybe you're just looking to start a new business, but you don't have the start up capital. We all know the economy isn't so great right now, but a poor economy means something good for all of us. Can you say "stimulus package"? Thanks to all of the government cash that is being dumped into alternative energy, all you need to do is follow one, two, or all three of these steps to get started!
Get Educated! Did you know that the government is throwing money at photovoltaic courses and Solar Training programs? Undoubtedly, many people are currently out of work or looking for steadier jobs in the field of alternative energy. If you are interested in becoming a "green" collar worker, there are programs that you can join to get the experience you need toward becoming a solar installer. Before the economic stimulus plan, "green" collar jobs already represented an emerging field, but now the demand for these jobs has skyrocketed. The Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis, recently announced that $500 million would be distributed as grants for training programs. Now is the time to become a part of one of the fastest growing fields.
Get Solar! Besides saving the environment and feeling positive about using a renewable energy source, there are also monetary incentives to making your life a little more "sun-powered". Make your home brighter with a home solar power system. Think about how much you would save on your electricity bill if you had a solar powered pool heater? Also, a wide variety of federal tax credits and deductions are available as well as federal grants. There are plenty of additional reasons (or should we say, "tax incentives"?) as to why you should switch over both locally and statewide. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy's website for a complete list of your local, state, and federal incentives for switching to photovoltaic energy.
Get a Job! Now that you've received training, it's time to start your career! There are tons of jobs available in both the public and private sectors. Even if you have a job, you might want to consider having a back-up plan in PV power. The federal government is shelling out more of that stimulus money to revamp federal buildings and retrofit housing projects with solar power. Just look at Massachusetts - because workers installed photovoltaic panels on government subsidized housing, both the taxpayers and the government have saved tremendously. There are also tons of jobs in research and development as we try to find ways to make energy from the sun cheaper and more efficient.
Can we say it enough? There are just so many openings and opportunities available in the world of PV power. "Green" collar jobs just might be the new "New Deal" that will successfully pull America out of this recession - who doesn't want to be a part of that?
For more information on getting started as a solar contractor or getting Solar Training check out our website.
Kriss Bergethon is a writer and solar expert from Colorado. Visit his site at Solar Panels.