Apprentices at the Northwest Washington Electrical Industry J.A.T.C (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) are gaining new skills installing solar photovoltaic systems, thanks in part to materials and equipment purchased under the Rocky Mountain Solar Training Provider (RMSTP) Solar Instructor Training Network grant.

Of the total employed workforce in California, 28 percent speak Spanish of whom half speak English with only limited proficiency. To expand employment opportunities for this large share of the population, Region 8 (California-Hawaii) SITN program launched a mini-grant program in the Fall of 2013 to fund PV Installation courses in Spanish at three colleges.

When thinking about solar energy, the Sunshine State may come to mind as being one of the leading states for solar installations. In reality, Florida ranks only 28th in solar jobs per capita, but 14th in solar resource. In September 2012, the “Solar Photovoltaic System Design, Installation and Maintenance – Entry Level” program was started at Erwin Technical Center by solar instructor, Siggi Brocks, and electricity instructor, Harold Wilson.

Kansas may not be the first state you think of for solar training, but Derek Reilley, Renewable/Sustainable Energy Program Director at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas, may make you think differently. Colby Community College is a partnering training organization under the Rocky Mountain RTP. Derek is the project lead for CCC's solar training program.