Florida Solar Training Receives Hollywood Treatment. Over the past 5 years of solar PV installation training, we’ve hosted just about everyone you can imagine – from politicians to millionaires to the unemployed.   The diversity of our classes is a testament to solar’s growing popularity – worldwide.  We even regularly receive students from the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. 

But I don’t remember ever hosting a true celebrity.

That’s about to change.  On August 20, award-winning producer and director, Roger Sorkin, will visit USSolar Institute to gather footage for his upcoming documentary – The Burden.  You can watch the “sizzle reel” by clicking here.

So why would a big shot like Roger want to film a solar installation class – in Florida of all places?

Well, The Burden takes an in-depth look at the US military’s crippling dependence on fossil fuel.  And it explores how the Armed Forces are beginning to take important steps towards leveraging green technologies like solar energy.

Solar is obviously an environmental issue.  Fossil fuels pollute.  Solar panels generate clean electricity from an infinitely renewable power source – the sun.

And solar energy is clearly an economic issue.  Just ask the thousands of Florida residents and business owners who begin paying lower electricity bills after installing solar panels.

But solar is also a national security issue.  All politics aside – our dependence on fossil fuel forces us to commit troops to countries that (not surprisingly) have oil.  Protecting these interests requires an incredible amount of fossil fuel, forcing us to invest more and more resources. 

In short, we start wars that merely increase our addiction to the very thing we’re trying to defend – i.e. oil.  (You should really watch the sizzle reel).

It’s insane.  The most patriotic thing we can do for our country (and for the men and women who risk their lives defending it) is to harness renewable power.  This isn’t simply me talking.  This comes straight from the US military (seriously… watch the sizzle reel).

But where exactly does USSolar Institute come into the picture?

Well, Roger contacted us after learning about our veterans solar training program.  The Department of Defense tapped USSolar Institute to begin offering free solar installation training to returning soldiers from the front.  Launched under the G.I. Bill, the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) helps to prepare these heroes for high skilled (and high paying) jobs in everything from nursing to IT to engineering.

Solar installation training was added to the list of approved educational fields only last year, and we were the first college in the country to qualify for the VRAP.  In fact USSolar Institute remains the only solar dedicated school that accepts ALL forms of VA benefits.

When Roger comes to our PV401 class on August 20, he’ll have an opportunity to film our solar training and interview some of the veterans who have already signed up for the course.  From what I understand, he has 3 primary goals:

  1. To learn more about what goes into our training – from the theoretical and hands-on instruction all the way up to the fully operational solar PV installation.
  2. To learn about these veterans’ experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq – guarding fuel conveys, patrolling shipping lanes, and facing all kinds of risks on a daily basis.
  3. To understand why they chose to pursue careers in solar energy once their service was up.  (I can take an educated guess – but let’s wait for the movie).

As a huge fan of Roger’s work, I’m thrilled that USSolar Institute will play a small part in his upcoming movie.  I’ve learned so much from his films over the years, and this visit presents an opportunity for me to return the favor.

Are you interested in solar PV installation training – whether as a civilian or veteran?  Contact us today.

And if you haven’t already, watch the video clip.  It’s powerful and thought provoking.