|
Editor’s note: Solar installation is a young industry but one that is growing at an incredible pace. In fact, in 2021, there were over 250 thousand jobs in solar installation in America, up from only 105,000 a decade earlier. (In contrast, the coal industry employs only about 160,000 - and continues to shrink.) What is often also overlooked about solar is how decentralized its opportunities are. There is probably not a county in America that does not have someone working on solar (or wind) energy. Not surprisingly, that kind of growth creates enormous opportunities for young people. This month, New Rural Virginia caught up with one of them, Rappahannock County’s Sean Mullan. Our interview follows. Enjoy! Hello Sean. Tell us about yourself. Sean: I grew up on Old Hollow Rd outside of Sperryville. Over the years, I learned construction and machinery from my dad. I graduated with Rappahannock County High School’s class of 2009. One of my first jobs was landscaping. I helped manage the construction of the golf course at the Headmaster’s Pub. My fiancée is also a Rappahannock HS graduate and went to the University of Virginia to study land conservation, including sustainability. She loves it and is now working for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation in Warrenton. Her work is mostly remote, but she does get to do site visits too. So, how did you get into the solar business? Sean: I was sitting at the Headmaster’s pub in the winter of 2015 when I overheard a guy talking about installing solar panels. I told him I was interested - and got hired! I worked hard on that for a few years. However, it was really tough hours, including long commutes going up and down I-66. After a few years I was burned out and left. In the last 5 years, however, there has been a major uptick of interest in solar -- including a growing number of clients in Rappahannock county. That rekindled my interest in working in solar. In 2019, I heard about the Sky NRG Solar company, which was based in Reston and installing solar in northern Virginia. So I asked them if I could work from here. I am excited because I found a job which is not only beneficial to the environment but one where I can help people save money. I help them create an independent system that can run for 30-40 years -- and that pays for itself in only about 7 years, taking into account growing energy rates, the 30% tax credit and SRECs (Solar Energy Renewable Credits). Why is solar good for your neighbors in Rappahannock county? Sean: I really like the fact that, when you have solar, you are much less affected when gasoline and propane prices get driven up by whatever’s going on across the world, as they did last year. Solar helps us reduce our overreliance on fossil fuels. That is good for our pocketbooks, but it is also good for our planet. Are there opportunities for people in Virginia to work in your field? Sean: Yes, there are all kinds of opportunities to join the industry, depending on your skill set. Both sales and installation positions are readily available. Do you need a formal training to get involved? Sean: Not really, I learned on the job and there is lots of information you can find online. Want to learn more about employment in solar? Links are here: Solar Energy Resources for Job Seekers, Energy.gov Growth of solar industry jobs, Reuters, July 26, 2022 Solar Jobs Census, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
|
