November is a time of giving thanks and GRID Alternatives Central Coast would like to take the opportunity to highlight one of our premier supporters, BHE Renewables. BHE Renewables owns Topaz Solar Farms in the Carrisa Plains (San Luis Obispo County) and have been a wonderful supporter in our local community. Their contributions to GRID Alternatives have helped advance our Workforce Development initiatives on the Central Coast and placed a number of job trainees directly in solar jobs. With their help we are training more women in solar skills as well as helping increase overall diversity within the booming solar industry. In addition to their generous donations, they have further supported our efforts by allowing us to bring student groups out a few times per year to tour the solar farm facilities and provide a rare firsthand look at large-scale solar in action.
The support provided by BHE Renewables has had the following impact on job trainees on the Central Coast:
221 Students from local High Schools, Continuation Schools, Community Colleges, and University
44 Job Training Organization participants
12 Job Placements in Solar Jobs!!!
Nationwide, Solar Jobs numbers continue to impress. The 2015 Solar Job Census reports that:
As of November 2015, the solar industry employs 208,859 solar workers, representing a growth rate of 20.2% since November 2014
Solar industry employment has grown by 123% in the past six years, resulting in nearly 115,000 domestic living-wage jobs
Solar now employs 3x more people than coal mining
The solar workforce continues to reflect greater diversity than many industry sectors
Women in solar jobs increased by 2% and now represent 24% of the solar workforce
GRID Alternatives Central Coast is so proud to be working with BHE Renewables helping local Central Coast residents receive the training necessary to enter the solar industry and make living wages to support themselves and their families. Thank you, BHE Renewables, for your on-going support!!