Enjoy our July "Career Connector" newsletter. This month, we’re featuring the hiring success story of a graduate from our workforce training program.
In addition to customer outreach and construction workshops, participants in our workforce training program receive CPR and OSHA 10 certifications and have taken the NABCEP PV Associate Credential exam. If you're interested in connecting with talent like the individual featured below, please email GRID directly!
Meet Nicholas Bihun, Interconnection and Permitting Specialist at New Columbia Solar
What was your favorite part about the training you did with GRID?
I really enjoyed the PV 101 class, that was really informative and interesting because it touched on a number of topics beyond installation that I was interested in.
How has GRID’s training program affected your plans for the future?
The GRID training program really kind of set me on a path. I was working on international environmental work and GRID hyper-focused me on solar development. It signified a shift in my career.
What does your dream job look like?
I would like to take what I’ve learned at the local level — what works as far as regulatory processes and best practices — and apply it nationally or even internationally because I think DC is a great model for solar development. My dream job would also be to continue to shape policy in the district through my current role, maybe regulatory and interconnection policy.
Do you think it's important to transition to clean energy? If so, why?
Yes, absolutely. The reason I wanted to get into the solar industry was because of my concern for the consequences of global climate change. We need a rapid and wholesale transition of our energy system.
What was your proudest moment as a trainee?
I passed the NABCEP exam. It was the cherry on top at the end of the program to tie everything that I’d learned together.