Solar Workforce Development is Having Its Moment in the Sun!

Guest Article Submitted by Solar Landscape

Successful workforce development programs benefit underserved communities when they provide trainees a pathway to family-sustaining careers.

Recently, Solar Landscape’s Kevin Dunshee spoke at the Maryland Clean Energy Center’s 2023 Legislative Reception.  “The only thing worse than no training at all, is training that does not provide a pathway to employment,” he said. “Our solar installer programs provide residents the skills they need to get and stay employed, and access to our professional partners that are hiring.”

Kevin connected the dots explaining how community solar is leading to workforce training and green energy jobs in Maryland. One recent installer training took place in Laurel, MD at Woodland Job Corps, where dozens of students got hands-on experience that could lead to placement in a solar career.  Those connections ensure that Maryland’s environmental justice communities are ready for the growing employment needs of the green energy economy.

The Solar Landscape workforce development program was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sunny Awards (Equitable Workforce Development category). Solar Landscape also conducts Train the Trainer sessions, which prepare high school teachers to educate students in sustainability careers. The program has reached more than 1,600 individuals with clean energy education and vocational training.

For more on Solar Landscape’s award-winning workforce development initiatives, visit https://lnkd.in/eUFjauCN

Ready to talk solar workforce development or community solar? Drop Kevin a line today.