Jennifer M. Granholm Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy | Official Website
The Energy Department announced the expansion of its Solar Ready Vets program to five additional military bases, as well as a $10 million award to 10 new projects through its Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP) funding program. The initiatives aim to meet the solar industry's increasing demand for skilled professionals.
"Jobs in the dynamic solar energy sector have grown more than 20 percent per year for the past several years," said Deputy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall. "At DOE, we are committed to training the solar workforce of the future through our partnership with the Department of Defense, the solar industry, and community colleges around the country."
These efforts build on the SunShot Initiative’s Solar Instructor Training Network, which has trained 1,100 certified instructors and provided hands-on training to over 30,000 students nationwide. The solar industry currently employs nearly 17,000 veterans and aims to employ 50,000 by 2020.
The Solar Ready Vets program prepares military service members for careers in the solar industry by training them in system installation, grid connection, and compliance with local building codes. This initiative is enabled by the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge initiative.
The new training locations include Eglin Air Force Base (Florida), Fort Bragg (North Carolina), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (New Jersey), Joint Base San Antonio (Texas), and Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Since its launch, approximately 250 graduates have completed this program from five military bases across the country.
To support President Obama's goal of training 75,000 solar workers by 2020, STEP-funded projects will train technicians for solar careers. One awardee under STEP is The Solar Foundation, which will serve as national administrator for Solar Ready Vets at ten military bases.
The STEP projects will also educate professionals in related fields such as real estate and architecture about solar deployment. These efforts aim to create an efficient workforce familiar with solar energy systems.
Awardees include:
- Clean Energy States Alliance: $568,000
- Elevate Energy: $445,027
- Electric Power Research Institute: $1 million
- George Washington University: $430,727
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council: $2.2 million
- National Conference of State Legislatures: $950,615
- North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners: $1.119 million
- The Solar Foundation: $1.947 million
- Trust for Conservation Innovation: $799,949
- University of Central Florida: $1 million
These initiatives help introduce Americans to benefits such as clean electricity and career growth opportunities in a rapidly growing industry.
