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Solar jobs, Part 1

I have to admit that when I first heard about green jobs as the solution to our economic problems, I thought it was all hype. Now I know the exciting truth: It’s only partly hype! Let’s face it, green jobs are no panacea for an economy that has been brutalized across the board. But, so what?

The Vote Solar Initiative

As Adam Browning, head of the Vote Solar Initiative told me in an interview on Monday, “Solar means jobs … [but] there are a million reasons to support solar.”

How may jobs will actually be created from solar’s growth? I’ve got two predictions. Both are guaranteed to be accurate.

1. A lot. Like, a really big number.

2. We’ll have a better idea after they’ve been created.

Mayor Gordon’s “phone has been ringing off the hook” and “we’ve been flooded with E-mails from people wanting to know how they can install solar,” the mayor’s spokesman, Scott Phelps, told Fireitup today.

Make no mistake about it, solar is gonna be big here in the Valley. Unless somebody manages to screw things up.

Here’s a recent (February ’09) NBC Nightly News clip on new solar jobs in Michigan. Notice how retraining and education are mentioned as vital parts of any plan for attracting and building a successful solar industry. Why should you notice that? Because it’s true. And because Mom is a retired school teacher.

Solar jobs, Part 2, coming up….

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Solar incentives a moving target…

…which makes hitting them tough.

I recommend a database at North Carolina State University. It’s user friendly, shows information by state or at the federal level, and goes by the very user-friendly name of DSIRE. Oh, baby. Which just goes to prove what advocates have been saying for years — solar power is hot.

DSIRE is, of course, an acronym for: “Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.” (Not as sexy as its acronym, maybe, but it sure is helpful.)

You can visit them here. While you’re there, be sure to check out the many other resources on the NC Solar Center Website.

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Stalking the wild Watt

Behold, the Kill A Watt

I promised to provide more information about a tool mentioned in a recent post: the Kill A Watt. It’s a small, inexpensive and addictive device for determining how much electricity your “Eco-Friendly Tofu Steamer” from SaveMotherEarth, Inc.™ has been sucking down while your plaid-shirted back was turned.

Just plug this meter into a regular wall outlet, plug the Tofu Steamer into the meter, push a button, and, Bob’s your uncle! (translation: there ya go!).

Of course, it helps to know which buttons to press and when. The folks over at the Alternative Energy Store made a pretty good instructional video on how to use the Kill A Watt and tossed it at the You Tube, where it stuck. Let’s give it a watch.

The video makes the process seem a bit more complicated than it needs to be, IMHO. But, still, it gives the essentials. I bought mine at Amazon.com for $22 and change last week (although the price fluctuates from day to day).