Governor Jerry Brown is determined to create half a million jobs in the renewable energy industry. During his campaign, one of his promises was to increase the renewable energy workforce, and he has created a plan that outlines what he wants to do in order to achieve his goal. He was sworn into office this month, and now Californians are waiting to see if he lives up to his promises.

"My goal is that by 2020, California should produce 20,000 new megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity, and also accelerate the development of energy storage capacity. California can do this by aggressively developing renewables at all levels: small, on-site residential and business systems; intermediate-sized energy systems close to existing consumer loads and transmission lines; and large scale wind, solar and geothermal energy systems. At the same time, California should take bold steps to increase energy efficiency," commented Governor Brown.

"Below is my plan to get us there. It will produce a half a million new jobs in research, development, manufacturing, construction, installation, and maintenance over the next decade," continued Governor Brown.

1. Build 12,000 MWs of Localized Electricity Generation

a) California should develop 12,000 megawatts of localized energy by 2020. Localized energy is on-site or small energy systems located close to where energy is consumed that can be constructed quickly (without new transmission lines) and typically without any environmental impact.

b) Solar systems of up to 2 megawatts should be installed on the roofs of warehouses, parking lot structures, schools, and other commercial buildings throughout the state.

c) Solar energy projects up to 20 megawatts in size should be built on public and private property throughout the state. For example, we should create the California Solar Highway by placing solar panels alongside our state highways.

d) The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) or Legislature should implement a system of carefully calibrated renewable power payments (commonly called feed in tariffs) for distributed generation projects up to 20 megawatts in size. Holding down overall rates must be part of the design.

Governor Brown's plan is to install solar panels in warehouses, parking lot structures, schools, commercial buildings, and highways. Knowledge of proper solar panel installation procedures is important for workers to have, therefore solar photovoltaic (PV) training is required. The American Institute of Renewable Energy (AIRE) is a solar training school that offers solar sales force training, solar installation certification courses, and solar panel installation training. By being a part of Governor Brown's plan, those looking for this type of work should really consider attending this remarkable institution.

The American Institute of Renewable Energy (AIRE) is located in southern California and offers the best instructors and hands-on experience in solar power training. If one is interested in attending a course, one should take advantage of the free bimonthly solar seminars AIRE offers. Receiving quality training in solar panel installation is the first step in accomplishing Governor Brown's goals.