Purpose and History of Grant

In 2016, under the leadership of City Council President Darrell Clarke, the Philadelphia Energy Authority launched its primary initiative, the Philadelphia Energy Campaign—a $1 billion investment in clean energy and energy efficiency projects over 10 years to create 10,000 jobs. Solar installer is the fastest growing job in the U.S., and it is currently listed as a High Priority Occupation for Philadelphia County due to high employer demand for solar workers. PEA is committed to preparing Philadelphia’s young people to fill these new positions. For over two years, PEA sought to meet employer demand by partnering with the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) to offer solar installation training to high school students and young adults between 18-30 years. In four previous cohorts, PEA provided introductory solar training to 70 students and placed 17 students into internships in the clean energy sector.

In the spring of 2019, PEA received a $1.25 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish one of the nation’s first Solar Energy Programs for Career and Technical Education students. This three-year, in-school Program of Study (POS) will help graduates access living wage solar industry jobs that do not require a college degree. The POS will provide 1,080 hours of training to students from 10th to 12th grade. Pending approval of the Solar Energy POS by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, any school district in Pennsylvania will be able to access state funding to offer the curriculum to their own students. PEA will also use the award to start offering intensive solar training to Opportunity Youth in partnership with YouthBuild Philly and PowerCorps PHL.

PEA contracted with the Philadelphia Education Fund for its support with the development of the program proposal to the Department of Energy and with the writing of the curriculum for the new Solar Energy Technology/Technician Program. Part of this task involved preforming a reconnaissance of existing solar training programs nationwide for high school commercial and technical education.