"Potter's Lane is an innovative community, and we're proud to be installing multifamily solar for the veterans who live here," said Michael Kadish, executive director of GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles.

"Wells Fargo is proud to partner with American Family Housing and GRID Alternatives to provide energy savings for our veterans and to invest in career pathways to green technology jobs," said Marcia Choo, vice president, Wells Fargo Community Relations.

It also offers immediate housing to disaster-struck communities and may be a solution for the homeless in Los Angeles.

Still, a negative perception of felons within the solar industry — and society broadly — is a major barrier, according to Adewale OgunBadejo, a workforce development manager with Grid Alternatives in greater Los Angeles.

The workers on today's installation are retirees, veterans, formerly incarcerated people, at-risk youth, and others seeking to transition into green energy jobs.

Our upcoming season of "Earth Focus" examines how communities are transitioning and adapting from different energy sources and how the laws of supply and demand affect the environment and people in different ways.

An enormous urban and suburban area of freeway and refineries, greater Los Angeles holds many more environmentally-disadvantaged zones than any other county in the state.

On the outer skirts of Los Angeles County, solar power is generating the growth of green jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals. A partnership between Homeboy Industries and GRID Alternatives offers training that helps people pivot into solar careers, while promoting environmental justice and transitioning underserved communities into cleaner energy.

Siemens, Southern California Edison, Grid Alternatives and more than 20 industry representatives shared their views on strategies we can undertake to create a more skilled and talented workforce.

Outside, attendees were given the opportunity to learn about electric vehicles and test drive the all-electric Nissan Leaf, charge their phones and other devices via solar power, participate in a raffle to win a portable solar panel charger, and plant various vegetables like lettuce and eggplant.