SunEdison and the SunEdison Foundation has decided to contribute $5 million grant for GRID Alternatives, as part of a joint initiative to train underserved communities for solar industry job opportunities.
The two-year program named RISE will help to link the need for skilled workers in the solar industry with communities that need jobs, creating a network of more inclusive solar workforce.
The $5 million contribution will include both financial benefits and also aids in the form of solar panels.
GRID Alternatives is the nation’s largest non-profit solar installer, enjoying a charity partnership with SunEdison since 2014.
The RISE initiative will provide hands-on training and real-world solar installation experience to over 4,000 people across the country.
With an aim to bring more women into the solar industry, the RISE initiative will provide training as well as job placement to members of the undeserved community through GRID Alternatives’ workforce development program.
As part of the initiative, GRID Alternatives will provide 40 individuals with one-year paid fellowships in their offices located across the country through its SolarCorps program.
Besides, the SunEdison employees will donate over 2,000 hours of their time installing solar systems for low-income families and supporting job-readiness for trainees.
In addition, the initiative will connect job trainees with solar companies looking for skilled workers.
The solar industry is adding jobs at a rate of around 20 percent year over year and this is a good chance to connect the job needs of the sector with labor force.
The RISE workforce diversity initiative will particularly try to focus on those communities who need the most help with pollution, energy bills, and job opportunities, with an aim to promote the climate policy in California.
This week, SunEdison and GRID Alternatives are working with the White House to help President Obama meet his goal of installing 100 megawatts of solar capacity on federally assisted housing in a way that provides job training opportunities to the residents of those communities.
Sabeena Wahid
editor@greentechlead.com