Job Training

Staff Spotlight: Meet Matt Kroll!

Welcome to the next installment of our Staff Spotlight feature, where we share a brief interview to introduce you to some of our amazing staff members here at GRID Bay Area! This month we’d like to introduce you to, Matt Kroll, our System Designer and self-proclaimed hippie. After making his own solar generator from scratch for Burning Man, Matt turned to GRID for job training in the solar industry and eventually became a SolarCorps Fellow. When he’s not designing solar systems for GRID’s clients, Matt enjoys making funky electronic music.

Taking steps towards sustainability today gives us hope for the future

Wes Cowan joined GRID Alternatives through our Solar Training Academy, a two week intensive hands-on and classroom based training in the basics of solar installation. The goal of the Solar Training Academy is to provide opportunities for solar job training to diverse individuals of low to moderate income. Originally from Oklahoma, Wes has had a passion for renewable energy since he was in high school. He hopes to return to his high school someday to help them become the first Oklahoma high school to install solar and use renewable energy for their energy supply.

Baltimore Goes Solar
“I’m very grateful and very blessed to be part of this program,” said Homeowner Pamela, “…and I’m happy to have the sun!” followed up Homeowner Wade. The two Baltimore neighbors stood beaming, on one of the hottest days of the August, talking about their experience going solar with GRID Alternatives.

Christian Science Monitor - Bridging the skills gap, one solar panel at a time

It was June 29, and Dexter Rawlings had finished his first day of on-the-job training, installing solar panels on the rooftops of Washington. After hours under the unforgiving summer sun, he arrived home, exhausted. But an email was waiting for him with an encouraging message: The work he had done was projected to save local homeowners more than $11,000 in energy bills over the lifetime of the panels.

SunPower…Helping Build Careers In Solar

Students from across the Central Valley region got a crash course in solar energy last month thanks to our longtime partner, SunPower! SunPower Solar Academies were held in the communities of Lemoore, Cutler-Orosi and Bakersfield, giving students the opportunity to learn about the solar industry, explore career options, and develop team projects to present to their peers. GRID Central Valley staff also participated in the events, presenting to students about our Solar Futures program, designed to provide classroom and hands-on solar education to high schools.

Local Color Podcast - GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic
Enter GRID Alternatives; a non-profit that provides solar energy installations to low income families, free of charge! Listen to volunteers and employees of GRID explain why they chose to set up office in the Mid-Atlantic, the valuable experience volunteering has, and why they’re so charged up about solar energy!