A program that helps veterans find employment in the solar power industry will expand from three bases to 10 in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Solar Ready Vets pilot program is part of the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative. The job training program launched in 2015 at three bases \u2014 Camp Pendleton, California; Fort Carson, Colorado; and Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The program has trained roughly 100 transitioning military service members as solar photovoltaic system installers, inspectors\u00a0and sales representatives; 40 more are expected to graduate by year’s end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officials look to expand the program in 2016 to 10 total bases. The exact locations <\/span>The new bases that will join the program this fiscal year, and the number of vets who that <\/span>will be trained, are still being determinedworked in the works<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Solar Ready Vets leverages the talent, work ethic,<\/span> and skills that our transitioning service members gain from the military, enabling them to enter the rapidly growing solar energy industry,” said Dr. Lidija Sekaric, director of the SunShot Initiative. “During the first year of our Solar Ready Vets pilot, every single program graduate was offered a job in solar. We are looking forward to expanding this initiative to ten total installations so that we can reach more transitioning service members and veterans, while helping to build the solar workforce of the future.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n