Fort Lauderdale's premier solar PV training college to receive Broward County's 2012 Emerald Award for leadership in climate change and environmental responsibility.

Emerald Awards

Fort Lauderdale, FL – February 21, 2013 – On Saturday March 9, the Broward County Board of Commissioners will honor USSolar Institute (USSI) with its Emerald Award trophy for Climate Change Leadership 2012.  Other categories of the Emerald Award included USSI’s Leadership in Recycling and Green Innovation.

Held on “Water Matters Day” at Tree Tops Park, the annual ceremony is an “activity-filled event” designed to educate area residents and businesses on the importance of protecting and conserving natural resources.  Through workshops and guest lectures, the more than 3,000 attendees learn about how their daily activities impact the local environment and what steps they can take to responsibly minimize their carbon footprints. 

As one of the leading solar PV installation colleges in the country – and the only such school currently licensed by Florida’s Department of Education, USSolar has trained hundreds of students throughout the US and Caribbean, preparing them for green collar careers in the solar PV industry. 

According to Jeff Halsey, Broward County’s Director of Pollution Prevention, Remediation, and Air Quality Division, “Protecting our environment is a top priority of the Broward County Commission.”  He adds, “There was a lot of great competition this year and USSolar Institute surpassed many other deserving applicants.” 

Comments USSolar President and Leader Instructor, Ray Johnson, “We’re honored by this special recognition and hope to continue working closely with progressive-minded people whose commitment to a greener and more sustainable economy mirrors our own.” 

Last year, the school also added VA tuition assistance under the GI Bill to help returning men and women in uniform secure the training they need in an industry hungry for more qualified PV installers.  “Veterans are disproportionately affected by unemployment.  By providing free tuition under the VRAP, GI Bill and Post 911 program(s), we hope to strengthen the local economy while simultaneously weaning our community off of fossil fuel.”  

There will be a much smaller follow-up reception held on March 21 at the Oakridge Hall during which attendees can speak directly with the USSolar Institute team and ask questions about training, installation, and solar-related topics. 

To learn more about “Water Matters Day” or the annual Emerald Awards, visit: http://www.broward.org/watermatters/Pages/Default.aspx. 

To learn more about solar PV installation courses and certification at USSolar Institute, visit: http://ussolarinstitute.com/.

 

About USSolar Institute

USSolar Institute is a globally diversified solar energy corporation with headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and offices, dealers, and partners around the world.  USSolar remains dedicated to comprehensive solar education and consulting services by providing global construction management, engineering, and financing solutions for virtually any sized project or system need.