(Press release from Conergy)
There’s a light at the end of the job loss tunnel. Contractors, home builders, electricians, welders, roofers, engineers, architects, glazers, building managers and others feeling the pain of this economy’s "construction obstruction" can learn how to successfully realize the promise of the Obama Administration’s Clean Energy Economy at the Conergy-American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES’) Solar Success Training Event, May 11-14. It is co-located at the 38th annual Solar 2009 conference in Buffalo, NY. Registration begins this week at www.solar2009.org.
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job loss figures are the worst they’ve been in 34 years. Unemployment rose to 7.6 percent.
Nearly 12 million Americans now rank among the unemployed. Unemployment rates for construction and extraction occupations rose from 11.4 to 19.2 percent.
So where’s the opportunity?
In his address to the U.S. Congress on February 24, President Barack Obama committed to investing $15 billion a year to create conditions that will double the amount of renewable energy produced in America in the next three years. The investments create fertile ground for thousands of businesses and entrepreneurs to engage in renewable energy innovations that make solar affordable for businesses, home owners and public agencies, while helping them save billions of dollars on their energy bills.
“Many of those engaged in the construction trades don’t realize that their skill sets and companies can be efficiently transitioned into the burgeoning business of solar energy,” said Donald Chung, Managing Director of Distribution for Conergy Americas, a full-service wholesale distributor serving a network of over 1,000 solar energy dealers and installers across the U.S. “They already possess about 80 percent of the knowledge and capabilities needed to be successful in solar,” he said. “With a decade of market experience and a 1 Gigawatt global solar energy portfolio, we at Conergy have the expertise, suppliers, logistics infrastructure and financial service network to give those wishing to diversify into solar the additional 20 percent they need to succeed in our industry.” Nearly one in 10 of the solar energy systems designed, engineered or installed in the world have the power of Conergy behind them.
SOLAR SUCCESS!TM offers a menu of over 30 interactive sessions for entrepreneurs in two, four or six-day tracks (Solar Success! for Start-ups, Solar Success! Fast Track, and Solar Success! All Access) depending on their level of business exposure. To learn more visit www.solar2009.org.