Riverland Community College is poised to tap into the growing market of green careers.

Riverland is offering a new solar installer certificate program beginning Jan. 11 on its Albert Lea campus.

“It’s an offshoot of our construction electrician program,” said Steve Bowron, Riverland’s dean of academic affairs. “We’re getting in on what will be a growing industry. I think Riverland is actually a little ahead of the game on this one.”

The solar installer certificate program will offer students a new career path within the Riverland construction electrician programs. This new option will give students a choice of training to be an entry-level construction electrician with a specialty in solar installation, site evaluation and repair. The solar installer certificate is an extension of Riverland’s current electrical program.

“This program will benefit our current electrical students and also provide more training and a specialty for under-employed electricians,” he said. “It will also make our current electrical students more marketable. As the solar energy industry continues to grow, the need for employees to install and service solar equipment will increase.”

However, being a student in the electrical program or previous electrical courses is not a prerequisite, said instructor Steve Vietor.

“This is for anyone with a mechanical interest who would like to prepare for green technology,” Vietor said.

According to the college, applicants should have a solid background in technical math, computer literacy, problem solving, decision making and troubleshooting abilities. They should also have the ability to work as a part of a team as well as independently and have good reading comprehension.

What makes the program especially attractive is the fact that 16, 16-credit scholarships are being offered for students in the program, Vietor said. It’s a 22-credit certificate program that lasts one semester.

“It’s a heck of a deal,” he said.

Bowron said the green energy industry — of which solar generation is a part — has been fueled by the sharp rise in energy consumption, concern about dependency on foreign oil, the high price of gasoline and the increasing interest in sustainable resources.

What’s more, Vietor said, is that people who become entry-level installers may quickly find themselves as a contractor in the field.

“There is stimulus money galore, tax incentives and rebates out there,” Vietor said.

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace provided a grant to help get the program started at Riverland and for scholarships. The $202,000 grant was awarded to a partnership that includes Riverland Community College, Workforce Development Inc., Alliant Energy, Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services, Albert Lea High School and the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.

The grant also funds summer internships for graduated high school seniors and pre-employment energy academies through Workforce Development Inc.

According to “Green Jobs in Minnesota: Market Analysis,” a study released by the Minnesota Green Jobs Task Force, the renewable energy sector is the strongest area of economic opportunity for Minnesota. This opportunity will create green jobs both through the expansion of existing firms as well as attraction of firms looking to serve the region. The subcategories of wind, solar and biofuels can deliver the largest number of green jobs. According to the study there are currently 9,477 employees in the renewable energy sector. The projection is that by 2020 Minnesota will have between 12,238 to 18,458 green jobs in this sector.

“A lot of people could get into the field with just a little skilled training,” Vietor added.

He said that while solar energy is expensive now, growth is bringing the price down. What’s more, solar panels have a projected life-span of more than 20 years, which makes them a great value — especially compared with the fluctuating cost of fossil fuels.

“Economics are going to drive this thing,” Vietor said.

Students involved in the program will have a chance to help install a 3,500-watt solar panel system on the Albert Lea campus.

“They’ll get a chance to put together a working system,” the instructor said.

Electrical students previously installed solar panels at the J.C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin.

The program is limited to 28 students, and anyone interested is encouraged to apply right away. Call 379-3300 or (800) 247-5039 for information on applying. Those interested in the scholarships are urged to contact the financial aid office right away, Vietor said, so the paperwork can be done.

“It’s natural for us in the electrician program to start moving into these green technology areas,” Vietor said. “We realize our electrical students will need to update their skills for this growing industry.”