Job Training

Leticia Reis, one of our summer interns, came to us by way of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (BRAE) Department. She heard about GRID Alternatives this fall during a partnership with the BRAE Department in which GRID employees participated in a Solar Photovoltaic System Engineering lab course and spoke at several sessions of the class.

We would like to thank and say farewell to three AmeriCorps State members and PG&E solar fellows who have completed 1700 hours of service to our office – Lauren Walburg, Anton Muller and Dan St. Sauveur.

Our Hollister Summer Immersion in Solar enabled us to provide volunteers and job trainees with real-world experience through hands on training in solar installation both on the roof and the ground. It also gave us a chance to pilot Troops to Solar and Students for Solar, two of our new Workforce Development Initiatives and enabled us to have two Women’s Builds as part of our National Women in Solar Initiative.

This year, our Central Coast regional office is continuing its work as a non-profit solar contractor with the help of three new employees and four new interns.

GRID volunteer Wendy Campa writes about her first days on the job with SolarCity. She is the first female installer in her local SolarCity office.

Our Solar Construction Intern found employment after logging hours with GRID. This Solarthon he'll be paying it forward!

Austin Thompson is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nations who reside in North Carolina on ancestral homelands, and are the only federally recognized tribe in the state. Austin brings with him a wealth of knowledge about what it’s like to be a Native American in our country today, and with that comes his passion for promoting renewable energy to all tribal nations.

Here on the Central Coast we are excited to introduce some of our workforce development initiatives that have been gaining momentum over the summer, including Troops to Solar, Youth in Solar, and Women in Solar.

It’s been six months since our satellite office launched into the North Coast to serve the many tribal nations in that region. We’re thrilled to report all we’ve accomplished!