The recession has disabled most, if not all, industries throughout the United States over the last 15 months. One of those bruised sectors was the residential solar industry, where the credit crunch immobilized installers from finding willing investor-funds to finance rooftop solar arrays. However, according to the New York Times, with whispers about a reversal of this recession becoming louder, “SolarCity on Tuesday said that U.S. Bancorp has agreed to finance $100 million worth of solar installations in 2009.” This is not only phenomenal news for the solar industry, it is also a huge benefit to electricians and construction workers who will now find new contracts and jobs for these solar installations.

Solar City retains ownership of the arrays and therefore qualifies for a 30% federal tax credit against its costs. Startups typically don’t have use for these credits, so they are given to investors in exchange for financing installations. Because of the popularity of the solar industry as well as the stimulus package, investors have been lured back, especially by the option of receiving a government cash grant in lieu of the tax credit.

One official within SolarCity stated that the burst of financing has not only gotten the company off its feet, but it is expanding quite rapidly. The company has been able to hire 112 new people with the financing (mostly solar panel installers and hands on workers). The workforce of the company has now shot up to 450 employees. That’s 450 men and women with 450 stable and lucrative jobs.

SolarCity is not just a rare success story. San Francisco’s SunRun raised $18 million in a round of funding in July, and last week, Sungevity, announced that it had secured $6 million in its latest bid of financing. These companies are now gaining strength and momentum in order to expand and hire more workers to fill their increasing number of contracts.

These companies are success stories that will breed motivation in smaller companies to build their brand and expand their workforce. What these companies run on is courage and skilled labor. Do you have your certification in construction or electrician work in order to open the door that opportunity is knocking? If the answer is no, what are you waiting for? Check out a program today.