Meet Gail Scanlon of Sunwatt Solar, Real Jobs RI graduate

Earlier this year, Real Jobs RI launched the first-of-its-kind Rhode Island solar sales training course to prepare students for their certification exam and for a future working in the growing clean energy market. Real Jobs RI, a program of the Department of Labor and Training, ensures that Rhode Island employers have the talent they need to compete and grow by providing targeted education and skills training. This class helped to feed a pipeline of trained electricians to meet our state's future solar needs and will contribute to meeting the Governor's goal of 20,000 clean energy jobs by 2020.

Gail Scanlon, project administrator for Sunwatt Solar, a solar installation company, based in Pawtucket, attended the training from February 26 to March 2 and we recently checked in with her for a career update.

Tell us about what you do at Sunwatt Solar.
Sunwatt is a small company and we all pitch in and perform whatever tasks need doing. I’ve worked on everything from creating brochures and banners to co-teaching a class in solar technology to high-school students. My main responsibilities as project administrator are assembling all the bits and bobs that constitute the “paper side” of a project. I prepare and submit the required documentation for interconnection approval, permitting, and installation–then assemble the completion documents after the install to get the system ready to be energized. Every project is a little different–so flexibility is key. We install in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, so I work with multiple utilities, state and federal agencies and municipalities.

How did you find your way into this field?
I came to the field serendipitously. When I moved back to Rhode Island in 2013, a friend who was getting a new company off the ground offered me a job. It turned out to be a solar company, and I must say being part of the renewable energy industry has proved to be an exciting and rewarding career move.

What opportunities are available in the local solar industry?
Solar PV is a tech heavy environment, but it is not all electricians and engineers. Opportunities are available in many disciplines. As front liners, it is critical that solar has well-trained, well-informed sales consultants. Experienced designers and installers are key, but also project managers/administrators, marketing mavens, and legal experts to keep legislation moving in favor of renewable energy. If you don’t have a technical background, I recommend getting started in an area that aligns with your previous experience. It could be answering phones, lead generation, financial experience or outreach.

What advice do you have for others who are looking to get their start in the growing solar industry?
I would encourage everyone interested in solar to take the Real Jobs RI course. It provides a comprehensive overview of the industry, solar basics, system design and peculiarities specific to installing solar in Rhode Island. I am a hands-on learner, so I enjoyed the system design worksheet exercises. Not surprisingly, I found the classes on actual electricity and tie-in to service panels and fuse sizes the most challenging. The enormous benefit of technicians and sales consultants attending together is each gain valuable insight as to how their side of the project informs the other. The future is bright, batteries and remote community net-metering are on their way – all you need is sun!

The next Real Jobs RI solar training begins in the fall. Stay tuned to this newsletter and the Office of Energy Resources calendar for upcoming training dates when they are announced.