President Obama wants 75 thousand more people trained to work in the solar industry by 2020 and a new program at Hill Air Force Base will help make that happen.
Speaking in front of a solar array at Hill Air Force Base, President Obama announced the launch of a new Solar Ready Vets program. Hill is one of 10 military bases across the country participating in the program which trains people transitioning out of the military how to work on inspect and install solar panels.
“A lot of our men and women in uniform are at some point going to transition in to civilian life and we want to make sure that after they’ve fought for our freedom that they’ve got jobs to come home to,” Obama says.
Prior to the speech Obama participated in a renewable energy roundtable with public officials, veterans, and industry representatives. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker was among those at the discussion.
“For Salt Lake City, really, we’ve had very ambitious goals," Becker says. "We’ve had great partnerships with the Department of Energy. It’s increased our capacity enormously, and we’re looking to keep building on that.”
During his visit, Obama also visited with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to discuss their humanitarian work and immigration reform. This was Obama’s first visit to the state of Utah as President.
