New solar jobs will soon be coming to Tampa Bay. A German company has recently announced plans to build a solar plant within the next few months. The new plant will be located in the Dome Industrial Site and is expected to provide 160 jobs. The company will also be creating a number of solar farms in Pinellas County, each of which will require 100 workers.
The company has been planning this operation for months and has made a careful study of the area. One important requirement for this industry is a steady supply of trained and educated workers. Even in this slow economy, there are more jobs than workers in the solar energy field.
There is a nationwide shortage of qualified workers in the renewable energy field. In Florida, workers who install and maintain solar equipment are required to have a certain amount of experience and a certification or diploma. US Solar Institute, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, offers the education and training needed for these solar jobs.
Kurt Nurse, St. Petersburg councilman and owner of Bay Tech Label Company, currently uses solar power to heat water for his building. He is interested in reducing his company’s $3,000 per month energy costs and plans to convert to an all solar system once the new energy plant is operational. Nurse stressed that the local government has been encouraging the German solar company to locate here by assisting in acquiring land and other matters.
Local government in Pinellas County promotes renewable solar energy both as a cost saving measure and as a way to bring more jobs to this area. There are 30 public buildings using solar hot water systems now. The goal is to make renewable solar energy as practical as traditional power sources by 2016. An Australian company has also expressed interest in locating here and has begun early discussions.
