The Future of Renewable Energy

At Solar First Solutions, we're committed to helping develop the renewable energy industry one professional at a time. It is our goal to create a diversified workforce of skilled professionals in various areas of the industry, including project management, leadership and all areas of installation, as well as programming and monitoring with the latest innovations.  It is our goal to create career opportunities that diversify the industry in gender, race and skillset.  We are proud partners of the Department of Energy, Solar Ready Vets Program and work with multiple accredited trade schools and career placement programs.  

Our team of certified energy professionals span from in-class teachers, on-line educators and in-field installers. Each area of the industry requires different skillsets not only in the educators/trainers but in the students. This is why encourage mentorship and don't just stop at skill training, we work with each candidate to understand the individual, and help guide them toward their best path for career development in the industry. 

Our trainers have various levels of Certifications including: 

• State Licensed Contractors
• OSHA Safety Training Professionals
• NABCEP Certified Solar Professionals and Exam Practitioners
• Manufacturers Install Certifications
• Energy Audit Certifications

This program is a competency-based, applied learning program, that develops skills in the ­field of solar / energy storage and provides a foundation in design, maintenance, and installation of various systems used in the residential and commercial environment.  This program provides students with the technical knowledge and skills needed to adapt a solar photo-voltaic design; conduct a site assessment; read blueprints; and install, maintain, and troubleshoot a solar photo-voltaic system. Students will learn basic electricity concepts in DC and AC electrical circuits, voltage, and electric codes, as well as practice hands-on basic residential wiring. Solar installation site assessments and design skills will be developed through hand sketches, use of IT Technology and Computer Aided Drafting software. 

 The 13th annual National Solar Jobs Census is a comprehensive review of employment and workforce development in the U.S. solar energy industry, nationwide and state by state. It is published by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). This year’s report also includes information on jobs in the battery storage sector and other clean energy industries.  

• As of December 2022, there were 263,883 solar workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. This represents an increase of 8,846 jobs, or 3.5% growth since 2021.
• This growth came in a year of transition for the solar industry, as the threat of new tariffs on panels and cells and other supply chain concerns led to a slowdown in large-scale solar installations. Nationwide, the utility-scale solar market lost about 6,000 jobs in 2022. In contrast, residential solar jobs grew by 11%, or about 9,500 jobs, balancing out the losses in utility-scale solar.
• About two-thirds of all solar jobs in 2022 (171,558) were at installation and project development firms. There were 33,473 jobs at manufacturing firms, 30,618 in wholesale trade and distribution, 16,585 in operations and maintenance, and 11,648 in a miscellaneous “all others” category.
• Solar jobs grew in 42 states and Puerto Rico in 2022. The state with the most jobs added in 2022 was California, the nation’s largest solar market, with 2,404 jobs added. California was followed by New York (988 jobs), Texas (904 jobs), Florida (506 jobs) and Massachusetts (476 jobs).
• Total solar manufacturing jobs increased only slightly from 2021. Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, there have been a flurry of announcements for new domestic manufacturing facilities, which if built could substantially increase manufacturing employment in 2023 and beyond.
• In addition to the 263,883 workers spending the majority of their time on solar, there were additional workers who spent less than half their time on solar-related work. In total, there were 346,143 workers who spent all or part of their time on solar.1 
• The solar industry expects a year of recovery in 2023, with anticipated growth in both the large-scale solar and residential markets. The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 will lead to a transformative expansion of the clean energy sector in 2024 and beyond.

 The Solar Ready Vets® Network (SRVN) is a solar workforce development program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) that connects veterans, transitioning military service members, and military spouses with career training, professional development, and employment opportunities in the solar industry.  

 On its beautifully landscaped 30 acre campus located in the heart of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Technical College provides students with industry-standard technology and equipment in all classrooms and labs. FMTC provides an education that enables students to become productive members of the workforce and community. Our instructors are licensed and certified teaching professionals.

Our employer-driven career education is sought after by students in need of job training or looking to enhance their skills for career advancement. Students train for secure, high-paying careers and nationally-recognized industry certifications.