Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee is growing the clean energy workforce in the Southeast.
Carynton Howard | February 7, 2025 | Clean Energy Generation, Solar, TennesseeIn February 2024, Goodwill welcomed the first cohort of students into a first-of-its-kind solar installer training program in Nashville, Tennessee. The class is part of Goodwill Industries International’s Clean Tech Accelerator initiative, which was created and funded with the help of Accenture and General Motors (GM) following the expansion of federal clean energy programs and tax credits. Nashville is one of four cities in the U.S. where clean energy jobs training courses were launched. Atlanta, Houston, and Detroit are hosts to EV charging technician and heat pump technician classes. Entry-level clean energy jobs often require no degree while still offering great pay and opportunities to advance. Goodwill plans to expand their offering of classes to 20 cities across the U.S. over the next 7 years with the hope of bringing around 7,000 job seekers into the clean energy workforce.
Breaking Down Barriers
Accessibility and affordability are what make this 4 week solar and storage installer training program unique. Solar installer courses in Tennessee cost thousands of dollars, which can be cost-prohibitive for many. But this program is different: Goodwill’s solar installer training is free, and students are also given a weekly stipend to help with transportation costs and other barriers to class attendance. Goodwill has made this program available to anyone who shows interest and has basic construction knowledge, though the community-based nonprofit also offers a construction and weatherization class in Nashville for those with no prior experience using construction tools.
No matter your age, professional background, gender, or industry knowledge, this program provides an opportunity for job seekers to find work that pays well and has a positive effect on the environment and customers’ electric bills.
The class runs for four weeks, and at the end, participants gain industry-recognized solar and storage training certification, OSHA 10 certification, and transferable skills that can be used to find future work opportunities, including jobs with local solar installation companies such as LightWave Solar and Green Wave Solar.
Not only is this an opportunity for people from all different backgrounds to learn a trade and increase their employability, but this program also serves the growing need for more solar and storage installers in the Southeast. As programs like the EPA’s Solar for All get off the ground, workers with this specialized skill set will be in high demand. Tim Kahn, the manager of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee’s training programs, shared that by gaining this knowledge now, individuals who graduate from this class are likely to have a leg up in the future. Students can use what they learn to gain on-the-job experience that may ultimately propel them even further.
Kahn hopes some participants will go on to run their own solar installation companies, which is a gap that currently exists in the Nashville market.
Whether students work as solar installers after graduation or take what they learned with them into another field, they can gain a lot from this experience.
What Participants Are Saying About the Program
When students of Goodwill’s program were asked why they were interested in this solar installer training, they gave a wide range of answers. One participant shared that he owns a construction company and is looking to expand the services he provides. He had searched for the right solar installer class for months, but the average cost was holding him back from picking one; the uplifting environment and stipend offered by Goodwill were added advantages to an already awesome find. Another student, a veteran, joined the class to expand his skills after completing Goodwill’s construction and weatherization training program.
Cheikh Proctor found this class by chance. Proctor came across the Goodwill solar installer training facility while completing a job in the same neighborhood. He already had an interest in renewable energy and electricity but wasn’t sure what to expect of the class. Once Goodwill accepted his application and he began working with the rest of his cohort, Proctor found this type of work exciting. He shared that the hands-on aspect of the work is what he loves most, and he would continue to do solar installation after the class ends and encourage others to sign up.
For trainer Ian Weir, this class was an opportunity to gain an even higher level of certification. Weir completed a “train the trainers” course created by GRID Alternatives, the organization that designed the curriculum for the solar installer class. Throughout the 4 weeks, solar installation experts from GRID Alternatives oversee the training, provide tips, and monitor safety while Weir works with the students directly and guides them through each week of class. GRID Alternatives, BlocPower, and ChargerHelp! are the training partners for Goodwill’s clean energy jobs training classes. More partners are likely to join the initiative as it expands into other cities.
Learn More
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Nashville Electric Service (NES) made financial contributions to support the creation of the mobile training lab and the onsite class. NES noticed the increased demand for clean energy in their service territory and Goodwill was the perfect partner to help meet that demand. As a result, individuals looking for well-paying, steady job opportunities are benefiting greatly.
Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee will continue solar and storage installer training in 2025. To learn more about the program, visit giveit2goodwill.org/solar
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