New Arizona Neighborhood Solar Scout Program(TM) Trains Unemployed Workers on How to Get a Green Collar Job on St. Patty's Day


PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwire - March 17, 2009) - In recent months, the economy has erased thousands of full-time jobs for workers in Arizona's real estate, construction, landscaping, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, finance, tourism and travel industries. And while many do not see the recession improving any time soon, more and more unemployed workers are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Due to Arizona's Renewable Energy Standard (RES) and Demand Side Management (DSM) incentive programs and the Obama administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package, thousands of laid off workers are now looking for training programs that will allow them to pursue green careers and help Arizona make the transformation to clean, green energy.

Numerous local, state and federal government agencies currently are developing green training programs that would create green jobs for workers by training them to weatherize homes, upgrade homes to energy efficient appliances and to install renewable (solar) energy power plants on their homes.

To assist with this process, the Arizona Solar Power Society (ASPS) has developed several entry level solar training programs that will provide workers with little or no experience a means to get a start in the renewable (solar) energy industry.

The Solar Scout program teaches workers how to use Google Earth to scout for south and/or west facing rooftops by zip code, and then use solar direct mail marketing programs to alert customers about the benefits of implementing energy efficiency measures and installing solar electric and solar water heating systems. Qualified business leads are then sold to solar installation companies for a commission.

The group also is seeking funding to establish professional solar installation training centers in Gila Bend, Prescott, Phoenix, Show Low, Sierra Vista and Tucson that would generate 10,000+ jobs; create $450 million in green job salaries and build a $3.1 billion industry for solar equipment and installation services. The training programs would be based on licensed solar training materials from SEI and professional certificiation through NABCEP.

ASPS solar training programs:

    3/19  - Neighborhood Solar Scout™ Training Program
    3/26  - Building a Commercial Power Industry in Arizona Conference
     4/2  - Real Estate Solar Scout™ Training Program

Workers can sign up for these FREE solar training programs at:

http://www.meetup.com/arizona-solar-power-society/calendar/

Contact Information: Contact: Robert Hoskins Front Page PR 480-218-4441 www.meetup.com/arizona-solar-power-society/