Amid tumbling stocks and a bleak economic outlook, a bright "green" light shines through the gloom - alternative energy systems, which can't be installed fast enough to meet rising demand in the Capital Region.

Solar installers and wind-turbine manufacturers are seeing soaring demand -- at a time when many industries are faltering.Hudson Valley Clean Energy owner Jeff Irish says that his "business is doubling every 15 months," according to an article in the Albany Times Union. Irish compares clean energy installation training to "learning personal computers in 1984. These jobs are local, and they cannot be outsourced or farmed out." Not only are these green jobs helping the environment, the pay is pretty good, too - salespeople for Irish can make up to $120,000 and engineers up to $80,000.

Even industrial giants, such as Schenectady-based General Electric Energy Renewables, are getting in on the trend. GE is currently building 13 wind turbines a day and expects to train 500 new wind-turbine technicians this year. Hudson Valley Community College in Troy and Ulster County BOCES in New Paltz are helping to lead the way in clean energy tech training programs, which are necessary to have enough qualified technicians to meet rising demand.