CALIFORNIA SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
916-747-6987 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
P.O. Box 782, Rio Vista, CA 94571

CALSEIA Clarifies Union Training Announcement

The California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) announces today that the need for qualified solar installers is greater today than ever before but that training is not limited only to venues associated with union efforts. CALSEIA wishes to point out that solar training programs have been in existence for many years.

Sue Kateley, Executive Director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association explains, "The solar industry competes with utility energy prices and is therefore sensitive to costs, including those associated with labor. Established solar companies offer attractive pay and benefits packages that are competitive without dues or mandatory membership requirements. Most solar companies are hiring today and provide a package of training for entry level positions to ensure that only experienced personnel are installing their systems." Solar customers are sensitive to the "payback period" of their solar installations. The payback period refers to the time it will take for customers to recoup their investment. Most customers consider a payback period of greater than 12 years as generally unacceptable. "The solar industry manages installation costs very closely to ensure that the systems achieve an acceptable payback. Labor costs are a sensitive part of the equation because the labor costs are used to calculate liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance premiums" said Barry Cinnamon, owner of Akeena Solar in Los Gatos, California. "Higher labor and premiums translate to higher solar prices. Something our customers would reject."

In 2005 unions lobbied to restrict solar installations to union personnel only. "One of the reasons the California Solar Initiative was delayed was because the IBEW demanded a clause that eliminated solar companies from participating! It was anti-competitive and restrictive of trade," said Kateley. CALSEIA rejected this approach as not only destructive but foolish – as the result would ultimately be higher installation costs. To quantify these added costs, CALSEIA sponsored a research White Paper entitled "The Economics of Solar Energy for California." The analysis in this research paper indicated that if all of California’s solar installations were done at union-scale wages, costs for the California Solar Initiative would increase by $750 million dollars. Since consumers purchase solar power systems based on their net economic costs, this added $750 million customer cost would have to be have to be offset by $750 million in added incentives — costs that would have been paid by ratepayers. By allow customers to choose a company based on experience rather than union membership, the customer is the ultimate decision-maker over which solar company meets their particular needs. "Most union companies are new to solar, whereas many of the solar companies in the U.S. have been installing solar energy systems for decades. You cannot put someone in the field after a class and say they know what they are doing. CALSEIA thinks the union companies should compete in the market against the experienced solar companies and not try to take over the industry by mandating restrictions leading ultimately to union membership."

The solar energy industry has been active in California for well over thirty (30) years and the great majority of installations have been accomplished without the use of union personnel. Much of the work to install solar panels is related to the proper fastening of the panels to the roof system. Nowadays solar components have straightforward connectors. "Solar contractors are tested and licensed in California by the Contractors’ State License Board and have proven through experience and written exam that they are qualified to install solar systems. Union membership is not a necessity."

CALSEIA supports the training of individuals for this growing industry and continues to partner with many organizations to develop equal opportunity entry level training programs. The most recent of these includes working with SolarTech, a new initiative from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Tom McCalmont, CALSEIA's Training Committee Chair and CEO of ReGrid Power, worked on this initiative and agreed, "There's opportunity for people to get good jobs in the solar industry. That’s why we are working on developing training programs that will ensure a large pool of new and skilled workers for this industry. But to limit the jobs to unions just doesn’t make sense if we are to be successful."

Other training programs are in the works but are not yet announced. Historically, training occurs through the local businesses and employee certification programs are available through independent training organizations and independent testing organizations such as the National American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Employees that achieve certifications are rewarded through higher pay!

CALSEIA honors the dedicated individuals and companies who over the years have established training for their own employees as well as the many organizations that have developed the curriculums and certifications that have led to the establishment of a strong, active and growing solar industry in California, the US and indeed, the world. The Solar Energy Industry has designed, configured, and installed thousands of megawatts worldwide without a union training handbook before this date.CALSEIA appreciates the effort that the IBEW has made to recognize that their members should be properly trained before entering the solar market.

About CALSEIA

CALSEIA (California Solar Energy Industries Association, Inc.) works to expand the use of solar energy in California, including but not limited to solar electric, solar water heating, solar pool heating, solar cooling and heating, and solar process heat. CALSEIA was founded in 1977 and the membership includes manufacturers, contractors, distributors, consultants, engineers, designers, and utilities.