Job Training

GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic recently hosted its first Troops to Solar build in Virginia! GRID Alternatives and HeroHomes teamed up to save money for a veteran family with equipment and system design donated by Standard Solar. The installation was completed by veteran and active duty military job trainees, as part of GRID’s Troops to Solar initiative, supported by Wells Fargo.

This summer, the GRID North Valley Sacramento office was thrilled as one of our trainees was hired onto our staff as a Solarcorps Construction Fellow. 18 year-old Andre Marks recently graduated from Sacramento Job Corps.

Across the District of Columbia, 42 families are now benefiting from the financial savings that solar power provides, thanks to a partnership between GRID Alternatives and The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU). GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic just finished up these solar installations in DC this summer through DCSEU’s Affordable Solar Program. GRID was chosen to be one of the program’s primary solar installers. The DCSEU’s Affordable Solar Program just completed its fifth year, and has already begun work on next year’s projects.

Two weeks ago, GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic welcomed four new GRID employees to the team! The new hires are part of GRID’s SolarCorps program, the result of GRID’s partnership with AmeriCorps. Three new SolarCorps Construction Fellows and one new SolarCorps Volunteer Fellow are now part of our Mid-Atlantic family!

While installation tends to be the most visible type of solar job, the industry has opportunities in a multitude of sectors suited for individuals with varying backgrounds - even those who don't want to get on the roof! Solar jobs can be in sales, project management, financing, and many other departments.

I would like to say thank you to the strong group of volunteers and job trainees that I have met this past year as the Workforce and Volunteer Fellow at GRID Alternatives Bay Area. I am continuously humbled by your heart and passion for the communities we serve and the hope of a cleaner environment. Since I was hired a year ago, together in the Bay Area you have volunteered 3,123 hours, helping us install 134 systems that will save over $3.6 million for the families while preventing nearly 7,519 tons of carbon emissions. This is the carbon offset is the equivalent of planting over 174,906 trees.

GRID Alternatives is proud to announce that one of our volunteers has found great success in the solar industry! German Rivas began exploring solar technology two years ago through GRID and his class at Proteus.