Sunrun and GRID Alternatives renewed a partnership to train California residents in solar installation skills for a second year. Through Sunrun and GRID’s partnership, trainees install on large-scale solar projects in California and gain transferable skills and experience to launch their careers in the growing solar energy industry.
California’s Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program brings the benefits of solar energy to low- and moderate-income tenants while providing paid training opportunities for eligible job trainees. GRID Alternatives recruits and manages trainees who join Sunrun on their SOMAH job sites, learning skills while seeing real impact on solar projects for multifamily buildings.
“I’m thrilled that Sunrun and GRID are working together to train a new generation of solar workers,” said Lynn Jurich, Sunrun’s CEO and co-founder. “These are good-paying jobs, and when more people from all backgrounds work in solar, we can meet our climate goals more equitably and quickly.”
The solar industry is on a trajectory to reach 400,000 solar jobs nationwide by 2030, according to the 2020 National Solar Jobs Census. So far, 112 trainees have graduated from GRID Alternatives training programs supported by Sunrun and 36 trainees have gone on to paid training opportunities on Sunrun’s SOMAH projects. In 2021, individuals will have collectively trained for 25,000 hours on large-scale projects.
Trainees participate in GRID’s Installation Basics Training 200 (IBT 200) job training program where individuals take their first step to a life-long career. In addition to solar installation practice, trainees complete their OSHA-10 and CPR/First Aid certification. The program often serves as a feeder for trainees on Sunrun SOMAH projects.
“Our partnership with Sunrun to provide job training allows us to expand our impact in economic and environmental justice communities,” says Tim Sears, COO and Co-Founder of GRID, “With hands-on solar installation experience, trainees are able to step into the growing solar industry.”
In addition to Sunrun and GRID’s workforce partnership, Sunrun has supported GRID’s mission to advance environmental and economic justice with solar energy for 10 years.
