Sharon's life was rock bottom when she was homeless and sleeping under a bridge. But now she has a bright future in the solar industry. She participates in a local job training and solar installation programme for low-income workers called Solar Works DC.
When more than 225 volunteers finished weatherizing 150 homes across Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and West Virginia, families across the region were ready to enjoy reduced energy expenses and added warmth in advance of the chilly temperatures and icy conditions expected this winter.
Everybody talks about jobs, and the clean energy economy is growing jobs at a faster pace than virtually any other industry. So, where do you go to get trained? A national non-profit is training the solar workforce of the future while also giving solar power to low-income homeowners who would not otherwise be able to afford it. It's called Grid Alternatives.
With the soaring demand for cost-saving solar panel installation in residential communities, a Washington, D.C.-based program is looking to arm residents from underserved areas with the skills needed to build a career, all while providing low-income families with the energy-saving benefits of rooftop panels.
