The solar energy industry has been had its ups and down in the United States for the past four decades. Starting with a boom in the 1970s and cycling through a bust in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the industry has recently enjoyed resurgence with strong federal and state support through tax credits and cash incentives. The cost of installing solar has significantly decreased to almost a low of $5 USD/watt including installation.
As a renewable commodity, its role in lessening the burden on the environment from coal-fired and nuclear power plants is becoming more important. Coal-fired power plants produce significant amounts of carbon, greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and other heavy metals that contribute to the continual contamination of lakes, rivers, and air, ultimately impacting the quality of these valuable resources.
NABCEP or the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners has developed a certification process for people wanting to become recognized in their field as having enough skill to design and install a system. While this is not a mandatory certification, it is the United States’ most recognized professional accreditation in this field.
NABCEP accredited courses can be taken through institutions such as CarolinaSolarTraining. They offer NABCEP exam preparation courses, solar thermal and photovoltaic fundamentals, and design and installation courses. The hands on work at institutions such as this one offers the student a practitioner’s perspective on how to install the latest technology onto mock roof tops and ground mount systems. At the end of the training, students must successfully install at least two systems before becoming eligible to sit for the NABCEP certification exam.
As a profession, there are growing opportunities. Never before have job prospects been this good. The industry has enjoyed significant price decreases in the technology. Also, homeowners enjoy the significant tax and cash incentives offered through the federal and state governments. In some states, the tax breaks can be over 45% of the cost of the entire system. The Federal Treasury has even offered cash to homeowners and businesses who install systems within a certain timeframe.
With training, most job seekers can find entry level positions starting at $50,000 USD for installation work. For technical sales jobs, the salary is competitive in nature, but requires the same training as an installer. So, NABCEP training through CarolinaSolarTraining would be highly recommended since manufacturers require this background prior to selling their systems.
Solar energy has made a comeback in the United States. The industry has prospered in certain regions of the country, with other regions just catching up. Clearly, it can withstand difficult cycles, but has been given a boost because of recent economic and energy crises. There are strong reasons that this industry will thrive especially given the social, economic and environmental benefits that have been made apparent in the last few decades.
Business owners, check out our site for details about the benefits of installing commercial solar energy systems, now. You can also find information about the best commercial solar panel installation firm, today.
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