This Focus on Energy article, “A Career Focused on Energy and the Trades,” explores the growing demand for skilled workers in Wisconsin’s clean energy and construction industries while highlighting the career opportunities available in renewable energy and the trades. It features Ed Zinthefer, founder of Arch Solar, whose personal experiences on a Wisconsin farm inspired his passion for energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions.
Zinthefer explained that his interest in solar energy began while renovating his family farm in Plymouth, Wisconsin, in 2003. Already working as a Master Electrician, he started researching solar technology and recognized both the environmental and financial benefits of renewable energy systems. After successfully installing solar panels on the farm, he founded Arch Solar, which has since grown into a leading Wisconsin solar installation company and a longtime Focus on Energy Trade Ally partner.
A major focus of the article is the workforce shortage affecting the skilled trades nationwide. Arch Solar’s Head of Business Development, JD Smith, noted that the company is continuously seeking motivated and dependable workers for solar installation positions. He emphasized that many solar careers do not require a four-year college degree and instead provide opportunities for employees to learn valuable technical skills through hands-on training and apprenticeships. Smith also pointed out that the relatively young solar industry creates a more level playing field for new workers entering the field.
The article also discusses Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program, which helps high school students gain practical work experience in fields such as electrical work, HVAC, carpentry, welding, and renewable energy. Tom Hermann, a coordinator for the Southwest Milwaukee Consortium School to Career Program, explained that participation in the apprenticeship program has grown significantly in recent years as more students explore alternatives to traditional college pathways.
Focus on Energy has supported workforce development efforts by creating educational videos, outreach materials, and career exploration resources for schools and contractors. Industry leaders interviewed in the article stressed that careers in the trades offer strong job security, competitive salaries, and long-term growth opportunities, particularly as clean energy technologies continue expanding across Wisconsin and the United States.
