Georgia Electrical Students Thinking Solar

By Jenel Few
The future's so bright for Savannah Technical College's student electricians, they're putting up solar panels.

Students have flocked to enroll in Savannah Tech's Photovoltaic Systems Program since President Barack Obama visited the campus in March and praised their renewable energy jobs training effort.

"Solar energy is efficient, it helps the planet and it's the upcoming energy craze," said student Ytinu Jzar. "I want to start my own business."

In 2006, Savannah Tech began offering solar energy installation and repair training as part of its traditional courses for electricians. At first, Savannah Tech instructor Lester Wiggins would teach students to install and repair solar power panels as an added bonus to students who were there only to learn to wire houses. But growing interest in renewable energy prompted Tech to offer the state's first 19 credit hour photovoltaic certification program.

"I teach them to install a 4,000 watt photovoltaic system to a roof so it can be tied in with a homeowner's regular use of the Georgia Power grid," Wiggins said. "Those solar panels will harness energy from the sun, put the power back into the grid and run the meter backward so the homeowner's bills are lowered."

Graduates, who either are electricians or work with a licensed electrician, can install and repair solar energy systems in Georgia. Georgia's only other program opened this year at Lanier Technical College in Hall County. Savannah Tech officials are working to further expand their program so they can offer the national certification through the North American Board of Solar Energy Practitioners.

Currently there are only a few places in the country offering national certification. Once Tech's program is nationally certified, graduates will be qualified to do solar work anywhere in the country.

Potiphar Nkhoma left his home and business in Cape Town, South Africa, to come to Savannah Tech and learn how to reduce reliance upon expensive gas generators in his country.

"I want to know how to be able to build and install the equipment so I can show others," he said. "It is my plan to return home and set up a business. Then, I will begin to work to convince government officials that solar technology is the better way to provide electricity for our country."

As governments seek more sources of clean and renewable energy and offer more grants and rebates for homeowners who make the switch, the demand for certified solar system installers will increase. Currently all the buoys off of Georgia's coast, roadside speed monitoring devices, lighting along highways and trails on Fort Stewart run on solar power, Wiggins said.

"It's a fashion that will not go away," he said.

Although work installing solar panels in Georgia homes and businesses isn't booming yet, all indications are that it will be. Green energy industries are expected to create 26 million jobs nationwide through 2030, including 59,000 in Georgia, according to the Pew Charitable Trust and the American Solar Energy Society.

Savannah Tech Photovoltaic Repair Program graduate Julian Smith started his own business, SolarSmith, because he believes rising power rates in Georgia will soon make electrical power sources too expensive for average citizens.

"We can put in enough solar power that you won't have to worry about electrical rates," Smith said. "My bill was $49 last month."