Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., is offering a training course that aims to certify military veterans as electrical field service technicians that maintain solar power and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
The program is the result of a partnership among the college, the Advanced Transportation & Renewable Energy (ATRE) industry association, a California community colleges workforce program, and solar engineering and services firm True South Renewables Inc.
The five-month college certification program, which is not restricted to veterans, will teach students how to maintain and repair solar photovoltaic systems, EV charging stations and equipment needing general maintenance. Qualified U.S. veterans are being prioritized for entry and will be able to secure financial support upon acceptance.
‘This is an important initiative to provide military personnel who were electricians in the service with training to receive certification in a high-paying, growing civilian field,’ says Rue Phillips, CEO of True South Renewables. ‘In addition, these graduates are needed. Few outside the solar power industry are aware of the volume of operations and maintenance work required to ensure the optimum performance of large solar fields and photovoltaic systems on commercial and residential rooftops.’
Classes start Jan. 12, 2015, at the Cerritos College campus. For information on courses and applications, email Jannet Malig of the ATRE at jmalig@cerritos.edu.
