Fort Lauderdale, FLORIDA–Ray Johnson, President of US Solar Institute, announced to the board that profits and revenue for 2011 did in fact meet three-fold increase projections as forecasted and, he expects to do it again in 2012. “Our growth continues to mirror the patterns we have seen year after year in the industry,” suggested Ray Johnson. There are hundreds of success stories in every state in the union, despite the press’s misplaced infatuation with Solyndra and Evergreen. “We believe solar related industries will continue to outperform in 2012 as we finally see and achieve grid parity with the grid. In fact, in some states like California, New Jersey, and Hawaii, solar already outperforms traditional distributed power. Solar panel pricing continues to fall and all indicators are that installed system pricing will continue to trend downwards.
Significant contributions for the growth in 2011 came from people realizing that the traditional NABCEP entry level based prep course is not enough to earn a job in the industry. “Back in 2008 and 2009 while we were working to earn our Florida Department of Education License, we took significant time to speak with leading solar professional engineers, manufacturers, and contractors to understand the skill sets they required to hire and that time has paid off,” states Johnson.
For example, Johnson spoke with Ken Henderson, UL PV Certified Installer #01 and Operations Manager for HyPower, while taking the UL PV Certified PV Installer Certification exam. Ken shared “we get applications from NABCEP Entry Level Certificate holders often, but rarely, if ever, are we impressed. What we really need are people who have some real world training. I mean, who cares if they know the difference between solar noon and twelve o’clock? What we hire are people who know how to install components per the National Electric Code, carry an OSHA Certificate, and have some real world experience. The problem is we have too many who took NABCEP entry prep courses that think they are fully qualified to install solar systems.”
2012 will bring a new focus for the individual who comes into the industry. The focus will be on those who have advanced training involving multiple courses through licensed and accredited colleges and technical institutes. “The day of going to a community college and taking a NABCEP entry level course should phase out while leading institutions like US Solar Institute’s program approach will prevail,” states Johnson. Last year while speaking with Johnny Weiss, founder of Solar Energy International (SEI), Johnson shared the program approach. SEI must have been impressed because they announced a similar program that mirrors what US Solar Institute has been doing since inception.
It is high time for true personal certifications, diplomas, and degrees from professionally licensed higher learning institutions to bring those educated in the safe application of solar PV electrical systems into the solar market. With licensed courses delivered and in accordance with the changes to the certification programs in the market, we will continue to see dedicated, properly licensed and accredited educational programs lead the global market—not just the United States.
This year US Solar Institute will continue to offer their popular “accelerated solar diploma program” with the 3 core courses offered just about every month plus the most comprehensive, licensed, and accredited online program in the world. “Once we get it built just right, we plan to give it away to those where need is the most important like Africa, the Caribbean and other developing areas,” Johnson states. “US Solar Institute must be the driving force and continue to put the real in world training for those who need it most.”
US Solar Institute is the first solar dedicated, Florida Department of Education Licensed and soon to be accredited, college in the world, is a partner with Underwriters Laboratories, and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
