Florida Inmates to Get Solar Panel Installation Training

October 27th, 2010 by Zachary Shahan

What’s one of the hardest things to do after getting released from prison? Finding a job. With clean tech, and especially solar energy, booming, helping such people get trained for and find jobs in the solar industry is a great way to re-assimilate them into society and ensure they get on their own two feet quickly. It looks like Florida is taking the lead on that front.

With a $740,000 grant from the federal government, the Florida Department of Corrections is about to establish a program for “training inmates nearing release to become certified in Photovoltaic System (solar panel) installation.”

The International Business Times reports:

The Department’s Teaching and Enhancing Careers in High technology (TECH) program will be established at Sago Palm Work Camp in Palm Beach county, which recently became the third prison dedicated to preparing soon-to-be released inmates for their successful re-entry into society. Re-entry facilities house inmates with three years or less on their sentences who are returning to specific counties, and ramp up their educational, vocational and treatment classes so they’ll be better prepared to find employment and keep it upon release.

The grant funds will be used to provide remedial academic tutoring; a nine month, 1,200 hour Electrical Technology Career and Technical Education component; on-the-job training; peer mentoring; case management; and post-release career assistance. The Department will partner with a fully licensed and accredited technical center in the Palm Beach area to provide Solar PV System training, leading to inmates earning a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certificate prior to release. Training will include a mobile training unit that houses a PV demonstration module so inmates can gain hands-on experience

Great to see my home state of Florida taking the lead on both inmate re-integration into society and advancement of clean tech like solar.

The grant Florida was awarded was part of the Department of Justice’s Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Adults.

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Photo Credit: Chandra Marsono via flickr (CC license)

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Tags: Florida, Florida Department of Corrections, inmate solar technology training, inmate solar training, inmate training, Palm Beach, Sago Palm Work Camp, solar training, Teaching and Enhancing Careers in High technology

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

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http://www.havenbrow.co.uk Martin

This may put doubt in peoples minds.
keith

So i should do a crime in Florida to get training for solar installization. Been unemployed for a year.
http://toad.net/~jsmeenen Scott Meenen

Just like in the HVAC trade, criminals can get jobs installing solar, I can see electrons in my sleep and can’t get get anyone to even talk to me about it.
Chris Sharp

I like the idea very much to integrate former prison inmates into working society, as it instills a sense of purpose and duty to getting one’s life back on track. I couldn’t think of a better way than with learning how to install solar panels. But I really wonder if the installations will be a steady source of income or just an intermittent source. There would have to be a steady demand of solar on rooftops to sustain the profession. I think that it will be eventually, but right now, there’s not high enough demand in Florida. I may be incorrect.

I think another idea too, for former inmates would be to learn permaculture or community garden development. Such a progam would also need support and funding, but perhaps a good side income would be selling locally gardened vegetables at grower’s markets.
paul

Sounds like a great idea… remind me to NEVER HAVE SOLAR INSTALLED AT MY HOUSE.