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In his late 20s, Brandon Sandmaier had a steady job with decent pay in the oil industry, working as a heavy vehicle technician.

Now he’s a poster boy for Alberta’s shift toward alternative energy.

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In 2014, the oil industry had yet to begin its dizzying free fall, but Sandmaier was re-evaluating his life.

He needed a new challenge and, with two young sons at home, wanted a career with a more positive impact on the world.

Many colleagues questioned why he would quit to study in a fledgling industry. Even he had reservations about whether the sector was big enough for a job in Canada, let alone Alberta.

Now Sandmaier, along with a fellow graduate from the NAIT alternative energy course, runs Generate Energy, a thriving solar power business, and the 33-year-old can only see the sector expanding.

Eight prospective students scramble for every available seat in the NAIT course Sandmaier took and, over at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), a solar installation course covered by union dues can’t keep up with demand.