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May 22 - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Rosalie Rayburn
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
Growing interest in solar energy has prompted a spike in demand for graduates from a small renewable-energy program at Farmington's San Juan College. Positive Energy has seen demand for its business soar since federal and state tax incentives and a commitment by PNM to buy solar energy took effect this year. "This industry is growing and the amount of trained workers is very limited," said Randy Sadewic, a partner in Positive Energy. The company had to look to San Juan College to fill an immediate need for solar-skilled employees. "They are the most qualified, they can hit the ground running, and they have practical experience," Sadewic said. San Juan College launched its renewable-energy program six years ago to meet an expected demand for technicians in the solar industry, said program founder Carl Bickford. It offers a one-year certificate program for students who already have a bachelor's degree or a two-year associate degree program. Courses train students primarily in solar design and installation with hands-on experience in electrical wiring according to the National Electrical Code standards. San Juan College also earned recognition from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, which is working to establish national standards for the renewable-energy industry. Still, the college simply can't keep up with demand for its graduates, said Tom Munson, San Juan's renewable-energy program manager. "There are more people clamoring for graduates than graduates available from the program," Munson said. Odes Armijo-Caster, president of the state's Renewable Energy Industries Association and co-owner of Sacred Power, an Albuquerque solar power company, said the greatest need is for skilled technical workers. Crownpoint Institute of Technology in Crownpoint and Southwestern Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque currently offer renewable-energy training programs for American Indian students. Santa Fe Community College offers hands-on training in solar technology through its Center for Community Sustainability. In Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College, formerly TVI, has electronics courses that include training in solar photovoltaic technology. Neighborhood Solar, a partnership between the city of Albuquerque and the U.S. Energy Department, is also seeking federal funding for training of people can inspect and approve solar installations to ensure they meet building codes. Pay rates are attractive by New Mexico standards, ranging from $12 to $15 per hour for recent graduates, rising to $20 to $25 within the first couple of years, Munson said. Despite the attractive pay scale, New Mexico residents are in the minority among the students. All 15 students enrolled for next year's renewable-energy program are from other states. The demand for the courses remains hot. Next year's program filled within three days of being advertised, Munson said. While many graduates head for California, Washington and Oregon, which have established generous incentives for solar and other renewable forms of energy, the number of jobs available in New Mexico is growing, said Sadewic. "We were barely making a living for a long time. Now, we're expecting business to double this year," he said. In 2005, Positive Energy installed a total of 30 kilowatts of solar power. The contract with PNM is to install photovoltaic panels that will generate up to 25 kilowatts of power. PNM's contract for the solar plant included a provision to hire new graduates as temporary employees. PNM has contributed about $140,000 to help fund the solar course program. The 22 pole-mounted solar panels sprout from a dirt field just north of Algodones, between a defunct power plant and Interstate 25. Power from the solar panels is already flowing on PNM's system. When complete, the site will generate enough electricity for about six households. |
Solar technicians are in demand