This Veteran’s Day, we here at Selling Energy would like to say thank you to our nation’s veterans for their service to our country. The men and women of the United States Armed Forces make sacrifices on a daily basis to preserve our free and progressive society. Their tireless work to protect the nation’s future and serve their communities stands as a sterling example of civic responsibility.
If you have served: Thank You.
To mark the occasion of Veteran’s Day, we want to highlight a few energy-related news items that have relevance to our veterans and the Armed Forces.
- The Solar Ready Vets program is part of the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. The program’s goal is to prepare American veterans for careers in the solar energy industry. Training programs are available for a variety of positions, including solar photovoltaic (PV) system installers, sales representatives, and system inspectors. The four-to-six week training programs build on the skills veterans have acquired during their service, and provide opportunities for trainees to receive technical accreditations and job interviews. As of May 2016, Solar Ready Vets is available at ten military installations across the country.
- Veterans interested in performing energy efficiency upgrades on their homes have a variety of programs available to help with financing and installation. Ygrene Energy Fund recently announced a promotion waiving origination fees for vets who apply for financing through the Ygrene Works program. Other area-specific programs are available to veterans throughout the country, such as this program in New Orleans offered by PosiGen Solar.
- A number of US Military bases have undergone renewable energy projects, such as this solar farm at Fort Hood. The Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, GA is set to become the Navy’s first Net Zero Energy base. According to Scientific American, the US Military’s goal is to get 50 percent of its energy from alternative sources by 2020.
- The winner of California’s first tiny house competition is not just an ingenious building designed to rotate throughout the day for maximum solar exposure; it was also designed with veterans in mind. According to the designers, the house is intended to be a low-cost solution for veterans training their own service dogs.
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