SAN DIEGO -- While the U.S. economy mourns a first quarter loss of 232,000 jobs, California job seekers, students, contractors, public officials, and others interested in breaking into the green-collar job boom will hear where the jobs are and how to train for them from some of the nation's preeminent experts at SOLAR 2008. This event runs May 3-8 in San Diego, the city that was recently named the #1 Green City in the U.S by the EPA.

Presented by the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society, SOLAR 2008 offers a window into the 8.5 million green-collar jobs that currently exist -- and the millions more being created -- to support the nearly $1 trillion renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors in the U.S.

“The solar energy sector is an economic powerhouse, and the growth of this sector is sparking the economic opportunity of the century,” said Neal Lurie, Marketing Director of the American Solar Energy Society. “SOLAR 2008 offers a litany of valuable sessions with 175 of the world’s leading experts on renewable energy and energy efficiency – few people understand the green-collar economy better than they do,” he emphasized.

In addition to giving direct access to over 150 businesses and vendors in the burgeoning renewable energy space, SOLAR 2008 features hands-on workshops, a renewable energy film festival, solar demonstrations, tours, and a green-collar job fair. Public events also include more than 50 popular consumer workshops on:

Best Solar Energy Practices
Solar Thermal in the U.S. Marketplace
How to Launch your Solar Business
State of the U.S. Solar Industry
Sustainable Living 101
Insight Into Energy Efficiency
Green Jobs for Social Justice
Tackling Climate Change
The Ins & Outs of Feed-in Tariffs
Opportunities for Solar Market Growth in the San Diego Region

Up to 10,000 renewable energy professionals, entrepreneurs, homeowners, and job hunters are expected to attend this event to get a leg up on where the industry is headed and ride the wave of the tremendous economic opportunity it offers.

To review the full list of tier-one presenters and events -- and to register -- visit: www.solar2008.org

SOLAR 2008 will offer Public Events May 3-4, 2008 from 10am - 5pm. An array of more technical content is featured at the full conference, which runs through May 8. All events are at the Town and Country Resort Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. Directions to the resort can be found at: www.towncountry.com To encourage as many as possible to learn how they can integrate green practices into their everyday lives, Public Event admission is only $5 per person which also includes access to more than 50 consumer workshops, the film festival, and the huge renewable energy expo.

WEB SITE: For more information or to register for SOLAR 2008 visit: www.solar2008.org

About the American Solar Energy Society

Founded in 1954, American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. ASES organizes and presents SOLAR 2008, leads the ASES National Solar Tour, and publishes SOLAR TODAY magazine. Learn more at: www.ases.org