Solar Energy International, a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on solar education and training a green a workforce, will host training courses at a new solar inverter facility in Rocklin, Calif., this March.

“This is the first time in a while we’ve gone to Rocklin,” said Solar Energy International spokeswoman April Clark. “We’re really excited about it because we’ll get to work in a state-of-the-art training facility for SMA America. It’s brand new.”

SMA manufactures solar power inverters, which is a hot topic in the solar world. Clark said hosting the workshops in the SMA facility should give instructors and students an opportunity to learn about that technology.

Clark said the nonprofit has decided to take its nationally known and acclaimed training program to California because it’s a state full of solar industry growth with more major projects, which will come with major jobs, in the pipeline than any other state.

“California is a good state for solar,” Clark said. “So we’re definitely interested in training the workforce there.”

The nonprofit is offering three courses in Rocklin. Its PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation class is a four-day crash course in solar photovoltaic technology, grid systems and an introduction to the core concepts necessary to work with all photovoltaic systems, according to course literature.

“The PV101 class is good for people who are just getting started in solar and interested in a career in solar,” Clark said.

The nonprofit’s other two one-day courses focus on the business side of the solar industry, Clark said.

PV204: Sales and Marketing is an intensive workshop with solar company owner Andy Black who will share his secrets for setting up an effective sales team, according to course literature.

PV205: Economics of Solar focuses on why solar is a financially sound investment for customers and how sales people can convey that to potential customers.

Anyone interested in participating in the courses can learn more at solarenergy.org.

Image courtesy of SEI.