Meet True South Solar Installer Kye Mihaljevich. He is enrolled in Oregon’s Limited Renewal Technician internship program.
What got you interested in the solar field?
I got to combine my interests of electronics, sustainability, technology and being able to work in the field. If I can power my home from nothing but light, the cleanest and most pure form of energy then why would I want to power my home from anything else?
What’s your favorite thing to do in the sun?
Installing solar! Haha. …Usually, I will be in the mountains or the ocean, in nature, near some water feeling gratitude to be alive and here. If I had to choose one thing it would be spending time at Diamond Lake with my family.
What brought you to True South Solar?
True South Solar is a company whose work I have admired and heard great things about for many years before being hired. Naturally, I wanted to work for the best. I feel very fortunate to now be a part of the team. I started my career specifically in solar working for a company called Greenwired for about ten years, based in Humboldt County, California. I have lived in various places including Oakland, Los Angeles, Eugene, Humboldt County, CA, and New Jersey, working in media or in the electric trades before finally making my way back to Southern Oregon with my wife and son.
What are you most looking forward to while working here?
Putting solar on every roof in Southern Oregon. Working on some great projects, perfecting techniques and quality of installations. Also, working towards completing my LRT apprenticeship and any other certifications that benefit my advancement in the solar trade. Making new friends and memories as well.
What do you see is the future of solar?
With breakthroughs in new efficiencies and lower costs, there will be more diverse and widespread applications. There is endless innovation as far as new materials, equipment, technology and battery storage. For example: perovskite solar cells show great promise and could potentially revolutionize the industry in a few more years. Vehicle to Grid Integration could become mainstream. AI will manage and optimize battery charging and discharging. Battery technology is constantly evolving…
I believe solar will account for the majority of power generation in another 50 years or so. Economically and environmentally, nothing makes more sense than solar.