MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — In Milledgeville, around 30 people took a free class on solar energy and entrepreneurship offered by Georgia College and State University.
Travaris Veal signed up after seeing an ad pop up online. He says taking the class gave him confidence to enter the world of solar energy for himself.
"This was an opportunity for entrepreneurship," he said. "I wanted to (improve) my educational purposes and try to start my own company as far as being an entrepreneur in the solar side of the business."
Although most solar jobs are in cities, Veal says more could be coming to Central Georgia.
"You have to start somewhere, so this is the opportunity for me to get my foot up off the ground," he said.
Veal's getting his foot up off the ground started with this class, and installing a solar panel at Baldwin County's water treatment plant. Now, Veal wants to install solar panels in his house.
"Oh, without a doubt I'm ready to start today," Veal said. "The professors here at Georgia College are very well. The law professor he was very sharp he taught us all the information to go forward."
Nicholas Creel said he started the class to teach people about solar energy careers. He said watching his students gets hands-on experience with installing a solar panel was fulfilling.
"Things we continually heard from students is how appreciative they are to get to work which is not something you would really expect when it is ninety degrees outside," Creel said.
Now, people like Veal have the knowledge necessary to start their own businesses - and create more green energy.