Solar company, Southern California Edison, announced the completion of seven solar power plants in Ontario, Canada and Redlands, California. The projects began construction last year, with the promise of improving both regions’ solar industries. All together, the installations can generate a total of 12.5 MW of solar power, adding to SCE’s initial three neighborhood solar stations. Ontario received four solar power plants, comprised of 32,950 solar photovoltaic panels built over 1.8 million square feet of warehouse rooftop leased by ProLogis. Redlands, California received the other three solar installations.
Initiative Provided Boost to Ontario’s Solar Industry
According to sources, construction of the solar power plants generated 250 temporary solar jobs, particularly benefitting those with solar installation training. The whole scope of SCE’s photovoltaic initiative is expected to create as many as 1,200 new solar jobs. “Ontario is proud to partner with Southern California Edison to provide renewable energy resources to our residents and businesses,” said Ontario Mayor, Paul S. Leon. “Through this exciting new solar program, we are not only creating jobs for our community, but we are [also] ensuring that sustainability is a key component of our long-term vision.” While not all of those new green positions are for Ontario, a considerable chunk of them are, providing much needed solar job help for the province.
Project Helped Generate Solar Jobs
A total of 130 workers with solar installation training from the 250 total were hired to work on the Ontario-based solar stations. As with other solar investors within the province, Ontario’s feed-in-tariff (FIT) program and other incentives are huge factors behind SCE’s entry into the province’s solar industry. This January alone, multinational corporations like GE and solar companies like P2Solar and SolarLogix moved into the region, providing additional solar job help and green career opportunities for residents. As Ontario’s energy economy shifts from traditional to alternative sources, opportunities in the solar industry will only continue to rise. Those who are new to alternative energy but are interested in solar installation training can start by reading accounts about what to expect as they transition into Ontario’s solar industry.
