Three YouthBuild programs selected to train opportunity youth for careers in clean energy as they earn certified solar panel installer credentials. Photo courtesy of Solar Landscape and YouthBuild Lake County (North Chicago, IL).
Continuing its success in preparing young people to enter the workforce in modern, in-demand fields, YouthBuild Global has launched a solar installation training and certification pilot to equip young people with the skills and credentials they need to pursue careers in the solar industry.
As the global and domestic demands for clean energy continue to rise, the need for skilled workers in the solar industry has never been greater. In 2023, clean energy technology jobs grew by more than double the rate of economy-wide employment growth in the U.S. The YouthBuild pilot program lays a foundation to meet this demand by offering participants hands-on training in solar panel installation, as well as the opportunity to earn employer-recognized credentials.
The three YouthBuild programs selected for this proof of concept are YouthBuild Just A Start in Cambridge, Massachusetts; CLC Inc., YouthBuild Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas; and YouthBuild Lake County in North Chicago, Illinois. Each program has an amenable local market and policy-friendly environment for the solar industry, the tangible space required to build a mock roof for training, proximity to other YouthBuild programs, and strong interest from YouthBuild students and graduates to enter the field.
As a core element of the YouthBuild model, opportunity youth — young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed — learn job skills in construction and other high-demand employment sectors. To recognize this experience and remove any redundancies found in conventional curricula, YouthBuild Global’s Strategic Partnerships team worked with partners Unirac, Solar Landscape’s STEP-UP Solar Training program, and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to develop and implement a curriculum specifically for YouthBuild students and graduates. The resulting credentials are specifically designed for opportunity youth who already have experience in construction and other skills training, streamlining the certification process and directly responding to the green jobs skills gap. This initiative was initially supported and funded by RBC Foundation USA and Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
“This is a groundbreaking effort specially designed to incorporate young people who have skills and motivation beyond measure in one of the fastest-growing job sectors today,” said YouthBuild Global President and CEO John Valverde. “Through the dedicated work of three impactful YouthBuild programs and our YouthBuild Global team, we are collectively helping to unlock solar careers and family-sustaining livelihoods for the talented population we serve. I’m excited to see this pilot reach its fullest potential throughout the YouthBuild network.”
The first cohorts began their training at YouthBuild Lake County and YouthBuild Just A Start in October and are set for completion in late November. CLC, Inc. YouthBuild Fort Worth’s first cohort will begin its training in December and complete it in January.
All young people who enter a YouthBuild program, anywhere in the world, pursue a dual mission: to create a meaningful and productive life for themselves and their families, while giving their best energies to improve the world around them. Across hundreds of YouthBuild programs around the world, these young people work together to reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become leaders in their communities through service and civic engagement. In doing so, they build brighter futures for themselves, their neighborhoods, and our world.
For more information about the Solar Panel Installation Training and Certification Pilot, or how to support the training program, contact partnerships@youthbuild.org.
About Solar Landscape & STEP-UP Solar
STEP-UP is a solar installation workforce development program launched by leading national community solar developer Solar Landscape. Solar Landscape was selected as a part of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships award. The award supports the hands-on solar installation training delivered in collaboration with YouthBuild.
About the Solar Energy Technologies Office
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office supports early-stage research and development to improve the affordability, performance, and value of solar technologies on the grid. Learn more at energy.gov/solar-office.
