Alright, so when Mason Taylor was about to graduate high school back in 2022, he was thinking he’d have to settle for a basic technician job in Tennessee. The dude grew up in Dryden, a tiny town in rural Lee County, right smack between Kentucky and Tennessee. But you know what? He wasn’t really feeling the idea of a two-hour commute every day. Homeboy just wanted to keep it local, you know what I mean?
So, this summer internship pops up where Mason learns how to slap some solar panels on roofs and whatnot. That experience opened doors for him, connecting him to local opportunities. There’s this whole effort in the region to train up young folks in solar energy, gearing them up for the growing demand in the coal country. Virginia’s been getting more into solar power, but the southwestern part of the state needs skilled workers like Taylor to keep the momentum going.
Now, Andy Hershberger, the big cheese at Got Electric in Virginia, has been running an apprenticeship gig for a hot minute. They’ve been teaming up with Secure Solar Futures out of Staunton to train the next generation of solar warriors. The goal is to groom these young bloods to handle all sorts of solar projects, from rooftops to carports to ground-mounted setups. It’s all about building up the workforce for the long haul, you feel me?
So, fast forward to today, and Mason Taylor is out there doing his thing as an electrician, putting in work at a state penitentiary in Big Stone Gap. He’s been through some twists and turns, from working on solar installations at Virginia Tech to finding his groove close to home. The dude’s grinding, taking extra classes at Mountain Empire, dreaming of opening his own electrician business. He’s all about keeping it local and maybe adding some solar flavor to the mix. Solar might not be all the rage in the far southwest yet, but hey, you never know what the future holds, right?
Alright, so solar training is getting these students ahead of the game. Anthony Hamilton, another young gun who went through the apprenticeship program with Taylor, is now rocking it at Got Electric. The dude’s juggling work and school, pulling long hours and grinding it out. He’s stacking up associate degrees, certifications, you name it. He’s looking to climb the ladder, aiming for that journeyman status and beyond. The solar game is real, and these guys are all about leveling up and making moves in the industry. It’s a grind, but hey, it’s all about that hustle and grind, am I right?
