FRESNO, California (KFSN) -- With energy costs going through the roof in many households, work crews have been busy on the roof installing solar energy panels.

Business has been so steady for Real Goods Solar of Fresno it is holding a job fair on Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at its office near Sunnyside and Shields. The company needs to fill over 20 positions.

General Manager Erin Clark said, "We've got operations, internal, which is a lot of computer work, customer service. I think we'll have a lot of turnout with that but installers I'm excited to see if some people have electrical experience. Some roofing is good."

More and more businesses are turning to solar power to try to keep energy costs down. Solar panels are stacked up in the company office ready for future jobs.

Clark explained, "We've got a big demand currently and that's what we're trying to keep up with right now."

John Richau is one of the few solar instructors in the Valley. By the time his students in Kerman complete their six-week class, they'll have the technical know-how to work in the solar industry and not just as installers.

Richau said, "They're going to design a permit package so they're going to have line drawings, all of the electrical drawings, roof drawings once they leave this class so at the very least they're going to have a firm knowledge in what's behind installing a solar power system."

Richau's class is funded through Proteus and targets low-income farm workers. But you can also sign up for the class through Workforce Connection.

The job fair will be held on Friday from 9:00 in the morning to 2:00 p.m. at the Real Goods offices in Fresno. The address is 3109 North Miami Avenue near Shields and Sunnyside. Suite 101.
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