Good Question

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) ― Blake Jones got a lot of exposure on Tuesday on the windswept roof of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as he showed President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden the solar panels put in by his company.

He's passionate about his business and excited about the hiring Namaste Solar is likely to do in the future.

"We now have plans to increase our workforce by 20 percent this year and forty percent through 2010."

Namaste Solar has already grown from three employees to 55 in three years and the tax breaks under the new stimulus plan are viewed as likely to grow business at the speed of a 90s DotCom.

"We need installers and installers are both installing solar panels but also electricians. Electricians who know how to run wire and conduit; Interconnect the solar system with the electrical system of the house ... We also need the same thing that any company needs. We need business administration folks we need folks with MBAs with finance backgrounds. We need people in sales and marketing."

They get hundreds of applications for every job opening they post. But there's a difference with some of them.

"Out of those applications that we get, maybe we're lucky if one or two of them has experience in solar and usually what sets someone apart is if they've taken some kind of training some classes or they know something about solar energy. They definitely stick out among the rest."

There are skills needed in any green collar job that aren't that far off from current white or blue collar work.

Doug Nieb, Vice President of Human Resources for Broomfield based wind energy company RES Americas writes, "A technical background is very important. Engineering related degrees are critical to understanding the technical aspects of renewable implementations from site design to final construction."

Nieb notes that, "Site developers require a good background in land acquisition, contracts, permitting, government regulations, and negotiation skills. Potential employees need to remember that there are also the normal back office functions such as finance and accounting."

"What we've got is an incredibly fast growing dynamic industry," says Jones. "And we need experienced executives who know how to grow companies, who know how to raise capital."

So where do you find those classes Jones talks about? Colorado may be the best place in the country to find them.

"In Colorado, we're lucky to have lots of training resources available," says Jones. "And they range from things that are a day long or even two or three hour long workshops or seminars all the way to wonderful masters degree programs at a lot of our major universities."

Smaller colleges have their own programs. Red Rocks Community College and Arapahoe Community College both have renewable energy programs.

At Red Rocks the administrator of the program, Larry Snyder figures it's size could double over the next year or so. But he hasn't seen the growth in jobs he expects yet.

"It's a little bit slow right at the moment, everybody's kind of holding their breath, waiting to see what the economy's going to do."

They will add a wind program this summer. There have already been calls.

But even those who don't seek a certificate or a degree can take classes about renewables that will help.

"Having that one or two week course really does set you apart," says Jones. "And even if you're doing something like sales which is sometimes transferable into the solar industry, having that background knowing that you went to the extra effort to learn background on solar technology and the industry, really does set you apart for companies like ours."

He suggests Solar Energy International, a Carbondale based institution that educates not just in solar but other renewables as well. There are classes in the Carbondale area in summer and at other times of the year they hold sessions around the state, including the Denver area.

"I'd say they're the oldest, best established and most famous training institute in the country maybe even in the world."

Jones notes there are many people at Namaste' who attended sessions at SEI.

There's also ICAST in the Denver area - The International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology.

The American Solar Energy Society, an organization that has existed since the 50s is a great clearing house for information.

Before you do any of it, says Jones, go to a workshop.

The Center for Resource Conservation or the Colorado Energy Science Center are non-profits that hold seminars or workshops about solar and wind energy and energy efficiency.

"If anybody's interested we usually recommend that you go to one of those first. It allows you to ask the high level questions, get a basic idea of what you're getting into and then if you're interested beyond that there are places where you can take one week or two week long courses."

Jones is fired up about solar and green jobs in general. His company is owner operated, sharing a piece of the company with employees once they prove themselves.

Wages are solid and the future bright.

"But not just that, I'd say that these are rewarding jobs. Not just in terms of money, but people love to work in a green industry where they know that they're not just serving themselves and serving their family and putting food on the table, they're also making the world a better place."

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