Two solar farms, jobs coming to Catawba County | Hickory Daily Record
Two solar farms, jobs coming to Catawba County
Firms building large-scale projects in western part of county
By: SHARON MCBRAYER | Hickory Daily Record
Published: August 15, 2012
HICKORY, NC — If you have experience in construction and you are looking for a job, a solar energy company is looking for you.
Strata Solar, based in Chapel Hill, will hold a job fair Aug. 22 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the east campus of Catawba Valley Community College, according to information from the company. The company also will hold a job fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at Urban League of Central Carolinas in Charlotte.
The company needs about 200 people for electrical and construction jobs, said John Morrison, chief operating officer for the company.
According to information from Strata Solar, the company needs solar installers who can build and mount solar modules; electrical helper who can install conduit and pull cables; and equipment operators who can work with excavators, forklifts and graders.
Wages vary from $9 to $18 per hour depending on skill and experience, company information says.
Strata Solar, which will sell the electricity it generates to Duke Energy, plans to build a solar farm in Catawba County and one in Mocksville, Morrison said. The company is building the solar farm in Catawba County at 3425 Zion Church Road.
Chris Timberlake, planner for Catawba County, said Strata Solar has a 20-year lease on 100 acres at the site.
Morrison said the company is developing about 40 acres of the property and have a capacity of 5 megawatts, which would power, on average, about 600 homes in a year. Construction on the solar farm in Catawba County has started, he said.
About 130 workers are needed for the construction that is expected to take about three months, Morrison said. The jobs are expected to start in late August and last through the end of the year, according to information from the company. Additional work is possible as the company builds more farms.
Strata Solar plans to develop five clusters throughout the state where it will build solar farms. The Catawba County and Mocksville farms are in the western cluster. The company tries to keep workers in their home area, Morrison said.
The company has plans for another four solar farms in the western cluster next year.
The solar farm has received approval from the county board of adjustment and requires a special use permit, Timberlake said.
Strata Solar isn’t the only solar farm planned for Catawba County.
For more information on Strata Solar, visit stratasolar.tronestaging.com
via Two solar farms, jobs coming to Catawba County | Hickory Daily Record.
