HOUSTON, TX, May 9, 2012: Industry leading solar training company ONTILITY Solar Training and world-class inverter manufacturer Power-One are joining forces to bring a unique solar energy education experience to Arizona. ONTILITY will offer the five day solar installer training course at the Power-One manufacturing plant at 3201 E Harbour Dr. in Phoenix on May 21-25. Arizona continues to be one of the leading solar energy markets in the US. and financial solar incentives are available for the owners of residential and commercial solar system installations. The IREC Accredited Solar Electric Training Course is suitable for those interested in a career in the solar energy industry and is taught by ONTILITY’s NABCEP Certified PV Installers, and accredited solar instructors. This course meets the 40hr advanced training required by NABCEP. Those looking for career opportunities have found this solar training course valuable as have entrepreneurs, electricians, electrical, mechanical and general contractors and others in the building trades who are interested in business opportunities in solar. As a motivated student in this solar training course you will have the opportunity to gain invaluable industry knowledge and you will begin your journey to join the Solar Energy Industry as a:

• Solar Business Owner
• Solar PV Installer
• Solar PV Project Manager
• Solar Salesperson
• Solar PV System Designer

“Power-One is extremely excited to partner with ONTILITY for this training program. Programs like this allow Power-One to directly interface with our customers and we are able to demonstrate the flexible, lightweight and highly efficient design of our string inverters and the benefits they provide to our customers.” Said Ryan Simpson, Business Development Manager, Distribution, Power-One. This ONTILITY Solar Electric Training Course provides students with instruction on these and other subjects that prepare them to join the growing solar industry:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells
• PV modules and system components
• PV products, applications and technology
• Solar Electric system design, estimation, and relevant codes
• An understanding of energy conversion from sunlight to electricity
• The knowledge of how to work with solar energy conversion equipment.

The course is based on advanced material from the photovoltaic installation job task analysis developed by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, NABCEP. The comprehensive PV installer training course focuses on real-world, site-specific knowledge. The comprehensive hands-on solar installer training covers site surveys; mechanical and electrical design, safety and construction issues; tool and test equipment use; best-practice construction skills; national code and local inspection issues. Power-One is a leading innovator in solar energy equipment design and manufacturing and offers the broadest range of photovoltaic and wind power inverter solutions in the industry for residential and utility-scale needs. The Aurora® product line of renewable energy inverters, from Power-One, features the highest efficiencies from market-leading technology, best-in-class design and high performance levels to maximize solar energy harvesting. The new 122,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona is truly state of the art. The Solar Training students will have a unique opportunity to tour the plant and talk with the Power-One team. “This professional installer training course is a tremendous opportunity for anyone thinking about getting into the solar energy business – the best, most relevant solar training education in the country is made even more relevant by our solar training partnership with Power-One, one of the leading innovators in solar technology.” said Ken Whiteside, Director of Education for ONTILTY. For more information or to register for the upcoming May 21-25 class please contact John Berry, ONTILITY Director of Training Sales. Call Toll Free: 1-877-495-7863.

About Power-One

Power-One is the world’s second largest designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters. Its renewable energy products enable the industry’s highest yielding conversion of power from both solar arrays and wind farms for use by utilities and homes. Power-One has a 40 year history as the leader in high efficiency and high density power supply products for a variety of industries including renewable energy, data storage and networking, industrial and network power systems. The company is headquartered in Camarillo, CA and has global sales offices, manufacturing, and R&D operations in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Power-One is traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol PWER. For more information about the Company, please visit www.power-one.com.

About ONTILITY

ONTILITY is committed to Connecting the Last Mile of the Solar Industry. In just over one year, ONTILITY has grown from a start up to an 80M solar business success leader featuring Solar Distribution, Solar Training, Solar Business and Project Support Services and Solar Solutions. Learn Solar design & installation through our professional solar training. Buy Solar from our stocking warehouse of superior solar products at competitive prices. Enjoy Solar Business Success with our full range of partner support services including engineering and design consulting, proposal support, sales and marketing programs, technology solutions, due diligence and financial support, lease programs, custom training and project consulting. Team with us on residential, commercial and large scale Solar Solutions. ONTILITY brings you best-in-class solar business and project training, products, support, services and solutions.

• Solar Products - Over 120 Manufacturers / Maintains over 20M in Monthly Inventory
• Solar Training - NABCEP and IREC Training Courses and Certification Programs
• Design Support – End-to-End Design and Engineering Support Services
• Consulting Support – NABCEP Certified Installation Consultants to Support Your Projects
• Financial Support – Financial Solutions for Your Business and Customers
• Rebate Support – Rebate Assistance and Coverage Solutions
• Logistics Support – Remote, Field, Project Site and Rooftop Delivery Solutions
• Marketing Support – Websites, Collateral, Business cards, Co-branding
• Sales Support – Lead Demand, Call Center/Inside Sales Center, Web Lead and One Call Closed Virtual Sales Proposal Programs
• Strategic Solar Support Programs – Homebuilder, Retail Electric and Utility Provider, Corporate Employee and Community Solar Programs

Solar Training is Coming to a City Near You; ONTILITY's 20 City National Solar Energy Training Tour HOUSTON, TX, April 23, 2012: ONTILITY announces Solar Training will be offered in 20 cities over the next 7 months. These professionally instructed and national accredited solar energy workforce development courses will prepare many American workers for a high paying job in the fast growing Solar Energy Industry. Many unemployed Veterans will be able to attend these courses FREE of charge with available ONTILITY scholarships. The solar energy industry is alive and well and growing, even in this challenged economy. Government incentives help customers pay for their solar systems and a growing number of lease financing offers are making it easier for consumers to buy solar for their home. "Our Solar Training Scholarships for unemployed US Military Veterans will help veterans returning from overseas duty receive the job skills needed to join the solar industry. The most recent solar jobs census predicts the addition of 24,000 solar energy jobs in 2012. We believe this program fill the need for widespread professional solar energy workforce training,” said Stephen Shelton, Senior Vice President and Director of Training.

The solar energy industry is alive and well and growing, even in this challenged economy. Government incentives help customers pay for their solar systems and a growing number of lease financing offers are making it easier for consumers to buy solar for their home. 

ONTILITY Solar Training works with the local communities to respond to growing demand for trained solar workforce by offering Solar Workforce Assistance Grants to all US Military Veterans, and unemployed American workers including skilled construction workers such as roofing, electricians, HVAC techs, and others like construction company owners and recent college graduates looking for employment.

ONTILITY Solar Training, the leading and nationally recognized Solar Training company will be presenting Solar Electric Installer Training in these cities:

Date                                              Location                                                 Cost without Grant          

May 07, 2012	Beaumont, TX	$1595	Register Now
May 07, 2012	Albuquerque, NM	$1595	Register Now
May 14, 2012	St. Louis, MO	$1595	Register Now
May 21, 2012	New Orleans, LA	$1595	Register Now
May 21, 2012	Phoenix, AZ	$1595	Register Now
Jun 11, 2012	Seattle, WA	$1595	Register Now
Jun 18, 2012	Toronto, ON	$1595	Register Now
Jun 18, 2012	Houston, TX	$1595	Register Now
Jun 25, 2012	New York, NY	$1595	Register Now
Jul 16, 2012	Los Angeles, CA	$1595	Register Now
Jul 23, 2012	Chicago, IL	$1595	Register Now
Jul 23, 2012	Atlanta, GA	$1595	Register Now
Jul 23, 2012	Baltimore, MD	$1595	Register Now
Jul 30, 2012	Miami, FL	$1595	Register Now
Aug 06, 2012	Denver, CO	$1595	Register Now

These scholarships, valued at $500 and $1,000 each, are available those who are interested in a career in the rapidly growing solar industry and have a financial need. The scholarships can cover more than half the program fee for the unemployed and 100% of the cost for Veterans. Your total cost to attend this 5 day class will be $595 if you receive the Level 2 Grant. This represents a $1000 savings off the usual $1595 price.

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. The application is easy, just click on your city's registration link when registering for the class nearest you, and include "Scholarship Request" in the experience comments section of the registration form. Your request will be evaluated and if approved you will receive a discount code to apply the scholarship funds to your class payment.

ONTILITY presents our IREC Accredited Solar Training Course for the purpose of preparing workers and businessmen to enter into the Solar Energy Industry. Attending this award winning Solar PV Installer Training Class is the first step to becoming a member of the Solar Energy Workforce. This very comprehensive class is developed from advanced subject matter from the NABCEP PV Job Task Analysis and will propel you down the path to a future in this exciting and fast growing industry.

During this very professional and intensive 40 hour solar training class, attendees will be taught valuable industry knowledge that is needed to join the Solar Industry such as:

• Solar PV Installer
• Solar Salesperson
• Solar Business Owner
• Solar PV System Designer
• Solar PV Project Manager

This class is suitable for anyone interested in solar energy such as:

• Business Owners  
• Master Electricians
• Professional Engineers
• Architects and Designers  
• College Students and Graduates
• Unemployed American Workers
• Unemployed US Military Veterans
• HVAC, Mechanical, and General Contractors

All others in the building trades who are interested in business opportunities or employment in the Solar Energy Industry are encouraged to attend.  

Click here to learn more and to register.

If you have questions about your eligibility please contact John Berry at 877-495-7863.  Please pass this scholarship information on to others interested in a career in the solar energy industry.   These scholarships are available on to a limited number of students for a limited time. If you are interested please contact us immediately

 

ONTILITY Expands its Solar Workforce Grant Program HOUSTON, TX, April 19, 2012:

ONTILITY Solar Training is now offering its professional solar PV installer training course in 20 cities and 15 states from coast to coast, and a select number of Unemployed Military Vets will attend free of charge. Recent reports confirm that the U.S. solar energy market continues to expand at double- and triple-digit rates. Installation of PV systems grew by 109% in 2011 as compared to 2010 and the production capacity of utility-scale PV almost tripled. This on-going solar industry growth continues to create strong demand for well-trained installers, technicians, salespeople and contractors. "The most recent solar jobs census predicts the addition of 24,000 solar energy jobs in 2012. We believe there is an urgent need for widespread professional solar energy workforce training. Our 2012 National Solar Training Tour and Solar training scholarships for skilled unemployed American workers will be instrumental in filling that need,” stated Stephen Shelton, ONTILITY Senior Vice President and Director of Training.

The recently launched ONTILITY Solar Workforce Assistance Grant program provides solar training scholarships to large numbers of highly skilled but yet still unemployed construction workers, underemployed professionals and college graduates in all areas of the United States. This groundbreaking non-government funded assistance program will provide tens of thousands of unemployed American workers, who need a helping hand, access to a high quality solar job training program. Now the program will be expanded with enhanced benefits for U.S. military veterans returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. In each community that ONTILITY visits during its Solar Training Tour they will offer free solar training to a limited number of unemployed veterans. Stephen Shelton continues, “We know that many veterans returning home from overseas duty have valuable job skills, but are having trouble finding employment at this time. ONTILITY wants to help in any way we can and we believe this program will give some deserving vets the assistance they need to find employment in this rapidly growing industry.”

The ONTILITY Solar Training Tour will visit the following locations in 2012: Albuquerque, NM; Beaumont, TX; St. Louis, MO; Phoenix, New Orleans, Houston, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta,Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Boston, Raleigh, San Diego, and San Francisco.

About ONTILITY Solar Training

ONTILITY Solar Training provides accredited solar training delivered by professional instructors who are NABCEP Certified Installers, and IREC Certified solar instructors. Our solar training program adheres to solar industry best practices and standards. Our solar electric training course is accredited by the Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ), an international accreditation and certification body whose U.S. program is administered by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). ONTILITY Solar Training courses are a combination of lectures on solar energy technology and theory, hands on training, real world solar applications, solar contractor training, National Electrical Code (NEC) information, explanations of State and Federal tax credit incentives, and solar installation contractor requirements.

Our instructors are also Senior Solar Consultants and are available to work with solar integration companies of all sizes to deliver solar design, engineering and consulting services. Our SME's are NABCEP Certified Installers and are available for onsite visits for Project Management and Commissioning Services. For immediate information about solar training and consulting at ONTILITY please call John Berry, at 1-877-495-7863.

More Information, Please Call or Visit Us: 877.558.7479 or www.ontility.com.

# # #
Media contact:
Alexandra Harrison
Marketing and Strategic Accounts
Tel: 281-854-1400
Email: alexandra.harrison@ontility.com
Website: www.ontility.com

Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, will host solar electric training courses in conjunction with ONTILITY, a leading solar supply and training company. Classes will be held in the following cities:

• Teterboro, N.J. – April 16-20
• St. Louis, Mo. – May 14-18
• Teterboro, N.J. – May 21-25
• Seattle, Wash. – June 11-15

The training will feature two courses. The first is ONTILITY Solar Electric Training, which is an entry level solar training course that provides participants with basic information regarding solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, modules, system components, related electrical circuits and working safely with solar electric equipment.

The second course, Advanced Solar Electric Training, is based on the NABCEP PV installation job task analysis, the 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC) and widely accepted industry best practices. The course covers site surveys, mechanical and electrical installation, safety and construction issues as well as tool and test equipment use.

For more information or to register for an upcoming session, please visit www.graybar.com/company/events/2012/ontility/solar-electric-training or call John Berry at 877-495-7863.

ONTILITY Responds to Solar Jobs Growth

Nationally recognized solar training company ONTILITY and will offer its Solar Electric Training on October 24-28, on the campus of the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. Recent research findings show continued very strong growth in solar electric job growth nationwide.

Solar Electric Trainingprovides students with basic knowledge of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, modules, and system components; electrical circuits; PV system design, estimation, and code requirements; solar electric products and applications; an understanding of energy conversion from sunlight to electricity, and how to work with solar conversion equipment. The course is based on the photovoltaic installation job task analysis developed by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, NABCEP. The course focuses on real-world, site-specific knowledge. Hands-on training covers site surveys; mechanical and electrical design, safety and construction issues; tool and test equipment use; best-practice construction skills; national code and local inspection issues.

The course is suitable for anyone interested in solar energy. Those looking for new career opportunities have found it valuable as have entrepreneurs, electricians, electrical, mechanical and general contractors and others in the building trades who are interested in business opportunities in solar.

In a preview of its soon to be released, "National Solar Jobs Census 2011: A Review of the U.S. Solar Workforce", the Solar Foundation announced recently that the number of Americans working in the solar energy industry has topped 100,000 and that between August 2010 and August 2011, 6,735 new workers have been hired in all 50 states; an increase of 6.8% in the number of U.S. solar workers.

Jobs in the economy overall grew by only 0.7% during that same time period, and the fossil fuel electric generation sector lost 2% of its workforce.

Andrea Luecke, executive director of The Solar Foundation said, "The National Solar Jobs Census series provides a definitive measure of the U.S. solar workforce and its growth over time. It proves where smart solar energy policies are having the most impact both in terms of states and across the vast solar supply chain."

"Solar is a job-creating phenomenon in an economy that is flat-lining, with near 7% year-on-year increase in the number of Americans working in the industry," said Danny Kennedy, president of residential solar installer Sungevity and member of The Solar Foundation's board of directors. "This is a sign of a thriving industry - due to the demand for lower cost, clean electricity that creates value in America."

The full 2011 National Solar Jobs Census examines employment throughout the solar industry, including installation, sales and marketing, solar training, wholesale trade, manufacturing and other fields. It is highly detailed and includes state-by-state growth rates and job numbers for 31 separate occupations.

“The rapid growth of the solar market demands a well-trained workforce and is a key element in the long-term success of the solar industry,” according to ONTILITY Director of Education, Ken Whiteside. He continued, “A comprehensive introductory solar energy course which includes system design and installation is a great way for anyone to get started in solar.” The upcoming 40 hour ONTILITY class consists of five days of training, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day. Those who complete the course are eligible to sit for the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam. The 40 credits earned by completing the class also satisfy the education requirement for NABCEP PV Installer certification.

About ONTILITY

In just over one year, ONTILITY has grown from a start up to a 60M Solar Distribution, Solar Training and Solar Projects Enablement leader. ONTILITY supplies top quality PV panels, inverters, mounting hardware and other solar products to solar integrators and other qualified solar contracting firms. Additionally, ONTILITY is one of the nation's largest solar training organizations, featuring NABCEP, DOE and IREC courses. To complement its distribution and training divisions, ONTILITY offers a full portfolio of solar project support services. ONTILITY is one of the largest solar players in the U.S. with a leading market share in many of the top solar markets.

ONTILITY is committed to the solar market and solar industry development. Learn Solar through our professional training. Buy Solar from our stocking warehouse of superior products at competitive prices. Accelerate Your Solar Business with our full range of partner support services including engineering and design consulting, due diligence and financial support, custom training and educational consulting. ONTILITY brings you best-in-class solar training, energy efficiency training, solar products distribution and support for solar installers, dealers and integrators.

• Solar Products - Over 120 Manufacturers / Maintains over 20M in Monthly Inventory
• Solar Training - NABCEP and IREC Training Courses and Certification Programs
• Design Support – End-to-End Design and Engineering Support Services
• Consulting Support – NABCEP Certified Installation Consultants to Support Your Projects
• Financial Support – Financial Solutions for Your Business and Customers
• Rebate Support – Rebate Assistance and Coverage Solutions
• Logistics Support – Remote, Field, Project Site and Rooftop Delivery Solutions
• Marketing Support – Websites, Collateral, Business cards, Co-branding

More Information, Please Call or Visit Us: 877.558.7479 or www.ontility.com.

 

The Fall 2011 date for the NABCEP PV Installer Certification Exam is just around the corner. September 24th will be here before you know it.  

ONTILITY is launching our semi-annual NABCEP PV Installer Certification Exam Prep Course in six cities nationwide, starting August 25, 26 in Milwaukee. If you are working in the solar industry (and you certainly must be if you’ve been approved to take the NABCEP test), you’ve probably heard from those who have taken the exam how rigorous it is. Brian Cunningham, ONTILITY Solar Instructor, Design Engineer and NABCEP Certified PV Installer, puts it this way, “I took the Solar PV Installer test this past March. I have to say that it was probably one of the harder open-book tests that I’ve taken. Now I’m not trying to scare anyone, but you need to be very well prepared if you want to pass. NABCEP certification has become the de facto standard for installing solar (thermal and PV) in the US. If it’s already not required to install solar in your area, it soon will be. You need to be certified.” Brian continues, “When I walked out of the exam room, I realized that I was not as ready as I had thought. I had studied every resource and practice exam that I could find to prepare, but in the end the actual exam looked like none of what I had studied. Yet I managed to pass. Why? I think because I had spent so much time trying to solve the problem of passing the test that I practiced the very skill that is the key to passing the test – Problem Solving. And that seems to be the crux of what NABCEP is looking for.

When you look at the NABCEP Certified PV Installer Job Task Analysis, you’ll see six major content domains covered and that everything in that document involves finding the best solution to a problem. Whether it’s identifying the correct way to deal with potential hazards, finding the best location for equipment or even selecting the best tools for a job, problem solving is required. That’s why the itemization of tasks is so extensive and comprehensive, covering every aspect of PV system design, project management and installation, electrical components, commissioning, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting.

So how can you better prepare for the test?

Five key things will greatly increase your chances of passing the exam:
Read everything on NABCEP’s reading list. Spend some extra time with the NEC, 2008 edition. Even if you are an experienced electrician, review the sections which pertain to solar and memorize where things are. Other than a calculator, the code book is the only resource available to you during the 4-hour test. And you do not want to spend extra time trying to figure out what part of the code applies to the problems. Review the details of every PV project you’ve ever worked on, no matter how minor those details may seem. Think about issues you had to solve both during design and on-site. The kinds of problems you’ve solved before may show up on a 60 question test in September.

Attend the ONTILITY NABCEP Exam Prep Class. If you are a licensed electrician or hold certification in any trade, you probably didn’t take that exam without a test prep session. Don’t try it with the NABCEP exam. ONTILITY is offering its two-day prep class in seven cities in August and early September: Boston, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Muskegon, Michigan. Classes are held on Thursday and Friday in most locations and on Friday and Saturday in a couple of places.

Improve you problem solving ability, as Brian said, “…it is the key.” Being able to think through complex problems quickly, find the information you need efficiently and draw sound conclusions. This is precisely the reason that ONTILITY designed its AS210 - NABCEP PV Installer Certification Exam Prep class the way it did. Two days of design challenges, installation problems and code issues. Two days of intense problem solving, lively discussion and instruction from one of ONTILITY’s Solar Instructors, all NABCEP Certified PV Installers, so they know what they’re talking about, that’s how you can prepare for the test.