US Solar Institute (USSI) is thrilled by President Obama’s recent announcement of renewed support of the advanced PV training courses, especially for our veterans.
USSI has been a provider of advanced solar training for both civilians and veterans for the last several years, and is one of the only schools that is currently approved by the VA to accept VA military benefits, including the GI bill. This recent announcement shows the government’s continued support of both the solar industry and the need for a trained and capable workforce.
As the official White House press release stated, the continued development of solar in the U.S. will help move the country towards the goals announced by President Obama to cut net greenhouse gas emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. While reducing emissions, solar is creating local, American jobs, making it a win-win for the environment and the economy.
On April 3, 2015, President Obama announced that the Department of Energy (DoE) now has a new goal of training 75,000 solar workers by 2020, increased from the May 2014 goal of 50,000. Much progress has already been made towards this goal in the last year through organizations similar to USSI in the Solar Instructor Training Network as part of the DoE’s SunShot Initiative. This renewed dedication to solar training by the DOE will hopefully help the momentum to continue as more workers and trained and jobs created.
There is also a revitalized focus on training military veterans in solar technology, and our advanced PV training courses gives them just that. In conjunction with the already existing option for veterans to use their GI bill benefits to received advanced solar training through USSI, President Obama announced a new “Solar Ready Vets” program. This program, run in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD), is an educational initiative taking place on 10 military bases across the country and focuses on training men and women who are transitioning from active duty to military veteran status in order to prepare them to join the solar workforce as qualified employees.
USSI’s dedication to training America’s solar workforce remains un-wavering. Having trained thousands of solar professionals over the years, USSI considers its work as a military approved solar training college a very high priority. USSI’s involvement in and support of the military even extends to the big screen, having helped produce the new documentary “The Burden”, a film that outlines the military’s role in utilizing solar as a matter of national security. “It has been an privilege to train so many of our military men and women over the past several years, and USSI is dedicated to continuing to provide high quality, advanced PV training courses as the workforce continues to grow.” Said Ray Johnson, President and Lead Instructor of USSI. “As a producer of The Burden I got to see the vital partnership of solar and our military up close, and it’s an honor to be able to help that partnership grow through our training programs.”
About US Solar – US Solar is a globally diversified solar energy corporation with headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and partners around the world. US Solar is dedicated to comprehensive solar education and is licensed by the Florida Department of Education. US Solar provides certified NABCEP exam preparation courses, full PV diploma courses, online courses through MyUSSI.com, and continuing education courses across the globe. US Solar also offers consulting services, construction management, engineering, and equipment solutions for virtually any sized project or system need.