The Energy Department will add five military bases to join its solar jobs training program that works to help prepare transitioning service members find careers in the solar industry upon retirement from the military.DOE said Tuesday the department will also award a total of $10 million to fund 10 new projects through its Solar Training and Education for Professionals program.
“Jobs in the dynamic solar energy sector have grown more than 20 percent per year for the past several years,†said Deputy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.
“At DOE, we are committed to training the solar workforce of the future through our partnership with the [Defense Department], the solar industry, and community colleges around the country.â€
Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Bragg, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Joint Base San Antonio and U.S. Marine Corps Base Hawaii will join the Solar Ready Vets program that has helped approximately 250 participants since its launch.
DOE said the DoDÂ Skillbridge program supports the project that works to aid exiting military personnel in pursuing civilian job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships and internships for up to six months before the separation date.
The training efforts aim to build on the progress of the SunShot Initiative‘s Solar Instructor Training Network that has trained 1,100 solar instructors and provided 30,000 students with solar workforce training, the department said.
A list of the 10 new STEP-funded training programs that work to meet the President’s goal to train 75,000 solar workers by 2020 can be found on the department’s website.
