Author Archives: Frank Andorka

New Website Aims To Bring Job Seekers, Job Providers Together In Easy-To-Use Platform

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

As the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. economy, the solar industry is hiring people at an ever-increasing rate – and as solar adoption continues to expand, the need for qualified workers will continue to grow, too.

But here’s the challenge: Even though well-paying jobs in the solar industry exist – today – the industry hasn’t yet tackled the challenge of putting the necessary job applicants with the job providers.

Until now.

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At Solar Power International this week, the Solar Training Network announced the launch of AmericanSolarWorkforce.org, a comprehensive online platform to help solar companies recruit qualified workers; allow solar job seekers to find career and training opportunities; and help the entire industry build a strong and diverse solar workforce.

AmericanSolarWorkforce.org is managed by the Solar Training Network, a program led by The Solar Foundation and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office.

“This new online platform helps meet an urgent need for top-quality solar workers across the United States,” said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director at The Solar Foundation. “The platform allows solar employers to expand their networks and make valuable connections with job seekers, training providers, and workforce development professionals in their area.”

Using this platform, which is free of charge, employers can post opportunities on a solar job board and connect with thousands of workers looking for solar career opportunities. Employers can also create company profiles, review candidate applications and communicate with potential hires.

Solar career seekers can create attractive profiles, apply for jobs, identify training providers, and make connections with solar companies. The platform also allows community colleges, workforce boards, and local nonprofits to create directory listings and build relationships with solar employers and candidates.

The Solar Training Network developed this platform following a 2017 report, Solar Training Hiring and Insights, which reported that a majority of solar employers found current job board services insufficient or difficult to use.

AmericanSolarWorkforce.org builds on the Solar Training Network’s research, which found a large majority of solar employers find it difficult to hire qualified candidates. It is a counterpart to a new toolkit, Strategies for Workforce Development, which outlines steps for solar companies to engage with local workforce development resources and build a pipeline of talented employees.

To that end, the online platform also includes a clearinghouse for original research and other resources to support solar workforce development. It features a “Solar Panel” with advice from workforce experts, and a shared news and events page for users to post updates.

Shocking News (Not Shocking): Americans Prefer Solar As An Electricity Source

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

For years, the poll everyone cited had 90% of Americans supporting solar. But that poll is now a few years out of date, and the energy source is is more pervasive than ever. So what if you took a poll now – would those numbers remain so high?

Well, now we have the the answer from the most recent The Global Strategy Group poll released today at Solar Power International – and the answer is yes. 91% of Americans prefer solar as a source of electricity, and 76% want their utilities to acquire more solar in their portfolios.

Most encouragingly, especially for those who say the industry need to be more politically active, Americans want more action by the government to encourage the use of both large and small-scale solar power, according to fresh polling on people’s attitudes about energy.

The Global Strategy Group poll illustrates solar energy’s widespread appeal among voters and national support for pro-solar policies, such as net metering and renewable portfolio standards.

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“Democrats, Republicans and Independents all said, everything being equal, they would vote against a politician who opposed solar power,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “Politicians can take this to the bank – Americans will not stand for government or company policies that prevent them from accessing clean, renewable, job-producing, affordable power.”

More than 70% of registered voters support both net metering and renewable portfolio standards of at least 50 percent by 2030, and nine out of 10 respondents also said that their power company should not be able to stop them from using solar energy.

The polling revealed that the most convincing arguments for going solar are that it emits less pollution leading to lower health risks than other forms of energy, that it creates economic and job growth, and that solar prices are dropping substantially, making it affordable for all Americans.

Support for solar was particularly strong with younger voters, men, Hispanics and opinion leaders. The data shows that more education and awareness leads to more favorable opinions about solar across the board, emphasizing the need to increase education about solar energy.

SEIA, The Solar Foundataion Attack Permitting Costs Head On

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

With cost being wrung out at every level of the solar installation, whether it’s module, inverter and racking prices, installation labor and even operations-and-maintenance. Yet the stubborn issue of exorbitant soft costs continues to plague the industry and keep prices artificially high.

Numerous studies have been done to determine the best way to bring those costs down, but they still remain high – at least until the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and The Solar Foundation (TSF) decided to do something about them.

To that end, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and The Solar Foundation today are unveiling the Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP) initiative, which will streamline permitting and slash the cost of solar installations.

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SEIA and TSF research suggest the permitting and inspection process costs approximately $1.00/watt – nearly $7,000 in direct and indirect costs – for a typical residential solar electricity system. In addition to reducing the expense of solar installations, SolarAPP improves the efficiency of going solar by creating a rules-based, automated permitting and inspection process.

“The goal is to make solar permitting more straightforward, and more routine, while at the same time maintaining the safety and reliability that U.S. solar projects are known for,” said SEIA’s president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “SolarAPP will cut unnecessary red tape, while saving Americans thousands of dollars. By making the process of going solar more efficient, both our companies and their customers win.”

The multi-tiered plan proposes the following reforms:

  • A safety and skills training and certification program that allows residential and small commercial solar and battery storage installers to attest that their projects are compliant with applicable codes, laws, and industry practices, thus eliminating the need for a traditional multi-step permitting process;
  • A simple, standardized online platform that will be provided to local governments at no cost, to “register” and automatically screen qualifying systems for local government authorities;
  • A list of established equipment standards and/or certified equipment for solar and storage projects installed through the proposed process;
  • The creation, or refinement, of system design standards for qualifying solar projects;
  • A model instantaneous permitting regime for home and small-commercial solar and battery storage systems installed by certified installers and contractors;
  • A program administrator to oversee and implement the plan, including providing technical assistance to state and local jurisdictions and utilities.

“An automated solar permitting process will reduce unnecessary costs and give Americans more freedom to choose how they meet their energy needs.” said Andrea Luecke, president and executive director at The Solar Foundation. “With this plan, we have a clear path forward to make solar installations even more affordable and widespread.”

The solar industry is working with stakeholders across the industry and government, seeking feedback on SolarAPP.

“Reforming the solar and battery permitting process is one of the most significant steps our country can take to making solar more affordable for all,” said Lynn Jurich, CEO of Sunrun. “There is a patchwork of inconsistent permitting procedures and standards across the U.S. and our customers pay the high costs of navigating this system. We have an opportunity to help the industry invest in a million more solar roofs over the next 5 years from the savings by making the permitting process faster, while ensuring safety and reliability for all.”

More:

Instant Solar Permitting, The Most Important Issue Facing Solar? (Podcast With Andrew Birch)

Why Solar Permitting Matters And What You Can Do To Help: A Discussion With SEIA’s Abigail Ross Hopper (Q&A)

Powerhouses Join Forces To Provide Services To C&I Solar Segment

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

It’s common knowledge that the commercial & industrial (C&I) segment of the solar industry historically has struggled to find financing and put together projects. The reasons for the struggles are myriad, but mostly it has to do with banks not being sure what to do with commercial properties and how to securitize them.

Now two industry powerhouses are joining forces in the hopes of relieving some of that pressure. EDF Renewables North America (EDF Renewables)and EnterSolar announced a strategic partnership whereby EDF Renewables will acquire a 50% interest in EnterSolar that will allow the company to offer C&I customers the most comprehensive array of behind-the-meter services.

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While the new agreement does provide Entersolar with EDF Renewables’ unparalleled experience in renewable energy and storage, and its proven long-term expertise in distributed solar solutions to corporate C&I customers internationally,\ it is primarily focused on is adding capital to the segment. As part of the agreement, EDF Renewables is providing growth capital as well as additional project financing capabilities to EnterSolar.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with EDF Renewables, which, in conjunction with a strategic investment, provides EnterSolar with enhanced growth opportunities and the ability to further advance our goal of becoming the preferred provider of distributed generation solar solutions to the corporate marketplace,” said Paul Ahern, president, EnterSolar.

“We are impressed with the quality of the EnterSolar team and the striking natural fit between our offerings. EnterSolar has a remarkable customer satisfaction track record with C&I customers, while EDF Renewables Distributed Solutions brings strength and experience specific to ground-mount solar projects up to 30 MWp alongside behind-the-meter battery storage for the C&I sector. This new partnership will benefit from complementary synergies,” said Raphael Declercq, executive vice president, EDF Renewables. “The partnership now provides our customers with a wider choice of comprehensive distributed energy solutions.”

Terms of the partnership were not disclosed.