Conservation Minnesota recently met with three Minnesotans who have created or found opportunities in green jobs.
Doug Hamilton President of Silent Power
Baxter, Minnesota
Doug Hamilton likens investment in green energy to the space program. “The ten years of getting a man on the moon, all the development, all the technology... was something that really helped the nation. It gave lots of technology and jobs. And yet, when you think about it, a person standing on the moon waving a flag really didn’t do anything for us, but getting him there did wonders for us. The whole green energy program — we can pour money into that just like the space program — but when we’re done, maybe every other house has a solar collector on it. And that’s something. That’s a good investment.”
Doug is president of Silent Power in Baxter, MN, which manufactures new electric inverter technology essential for many renewable energy applications. “Your solar panel takes power and stores it in the batteries in your basement or garage. We take it back out of the batteries, and put it back in your home as 120 Volts AC, alternating current,” Doug said.
An electrical engineer, Doug was researching ways to convert natural gas into electricity. “I did a lot of product development and was looking for a good inverter to go along with that.” Doug searched in vain for one that worked well. “So I ended up designing and building one.”
In addition to building inverters that work with solar systems, Silent Power also manufactures back-up battery systems for power outages.
Despite our struggling economy, Doug’s business is thriving. “We’re hiring people. We will be hiring people for production purposes.” He recently hired a new salesperson and software engineer. “A lot of jobs will be available for the next two to three years.”
“Government is good for helping get things started, but it really takes private investors to make it happen. The big issue is proving that it is profitable. Once that happens, the industry takes care of itself. It’s just nice that the government is getting it started.”
Tony Czech Solar Electric Installer
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tony Czech likes to think of himself as just another electrician — who happens to have his solar installation certification. He recently helped install the large array of solar panels at the new corporate headquarters of Great River Energy.
“A lot of it was good fortune working for my company that I picked up one of these [solar] projects.” Tony’s union, IBEW Local 292 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), developed a course on installation of solar systems and he jumped at the opportunity. His teacher had 40 years of solar installation experience. “It inspired me to keep pursuing it. And then I completed my certification (from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners).”
“I’m ecstatic that I took the class — knowing that I’m leading the way in this state [in solar projects]. Right now the IBEW has a waiting list of over 100 people to go through the course and move towards certification. On our end, workers are trying to meet the demand that will be there.” Tony is one of only 16 people in the state that are certified in solar installation. And right now, there are more jobs than there are certified installers.
“It’s an opportunity to separate yourself from the pack, to be more employable to contractors and people interested in the renewable energy industry.”
If you doubt the amount of solar energy available in Minnesota, “We have as much solar capability as Houston, Texas. It’s not based off of heat. It’s based off of sun-light intensity, and we have a lot of clear skies and a lot of cold weather that promotes good solar energy.”
Jerry Lilyerd Owner of Sun Energy, and Installer of Solar Heat and Electric Systems
Mora, Minnesota
“I quit a really good job with Xcel Energy (NSP at the time) and I’ve been doing alternative energy ever since, helping people do what I enjoy doing, so I feel like a kid in a candy store. It was the best thing I ever did. I’ve never been looking for something to do the next morning. I’m always a month or two backed up.”
Jerry started his own company, Sun Energy, about 15 years ago, installing solar water heaters and solar electric systems.
“The best way to start is do something yourself at your own place, so you can speak and show by example on what works or doesn’t work. It’s a win-win situation. Try anything and learn something good or bad from that.”
Jerry sees a bright future for his and other clean energy businesses. He has seen renewable energy “exponentially getting busier for a lot of reasons: the environment, a political point of view, an economic point of view... to feeling like it’s the right thing to do.”
“Solar isn’t going to do it alone, there is no one single answer on how to
get there.”
“My prediction is within ten years, the standard price of electricity will be three times the price as it is now. Everyone’s whining now about a $150 a month electric bill. $450 is going to be a lot more of a pain in the side. [Solar energy] makes much more sense.”
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