Project Name: Solar Training Network
Funding Opportunity: Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP)
SunShot Subprogram: Soft Costs
Location: Washington, DC
SunShot Award Amount: $2,107,862
Awardee Cost Share: $34,295

The Solar Foundation is administering the Solar Training Network, which connects solar workforce trainers, solar employers, and individuals interested in working in the solar industry. This project leverages the experience and expertise of its team members to develop and expand training and workforce capacity building nationwide. It builds on the success of an earlier SunShot program, the Solar Instructor Training Network.

This project was announced by the White House in July 2016. Read the announcement.

Approach

The Solar Foundation will create a centralized place for solar workforce tools and resources. This includes establishing a Solar Jobs Strategy Commission to foster an exchange of resources and knowledge between training providers and the solar industry. The Solar Foundation will also conduct research and analysis to enhance the understanding of the solar industry’s workforce and training supply, demand, needs, and costs.

Innovation

The Solar Foundation will develop an infrastructure that will make significant contributions toward President Obama’s goal of training 75,000 workers in solar by 2020, which will benefit both companies and consumers by having a qualified, diverse solar workforce. The Solar Training Network will also make it easier for interested students and job seekers to find solar training courses, hands-on experiences, and solar jobs near them. The creation of a framework that effectively responds to evolving industry needs and market demands will reduce the cost of installation while improving the quality and speed of the installation itself.