Vice President of GRID Alternative's Workforce Development Program Adewale OgunBedjo presented a certificate of recognition to GRID CV Co-Executive Director Karina Gonzalez. Photo by Frank Lopez

The Central Valley has a few more residents entering the solar energy industry with the help of a national nonprofit that has a local presence.

GRID Alternatives is a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color.

Its Central Valley affiliate, GRID Central Valley (GRID CV) held a press conference on March 14 to celebrate its partnership with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), coinciding with the graduation of four students from its training program.

Last year, the IREC, a nonprofit focused on 100% clean energy, accredited GRID CV for its Installations Basics Training 200 Program (IBT 200), which provides education placement assistance for people living in the Fresno and Madera areas.

The IBT 200 program offers Solar Installation Basics training through theory-based instruction, practical field experience, and essential soft skills.

 

Bright opportunity

GRID Alternatives Vice President of Communications Lycia Ortega said the nonprofit has changed the lives of countless trainees, giving them the credentials, tools and confidence to play a role in building a clean-energy world.

“This trailblazing effort stems from the deep understanding and commitment to meet the needs of this community,” Ortega said. “The ambition behind the program was to get trainees into the workforce quickly, without compromising the training of the program.”

She said GRID CV has built solid relationships with employers in the region, with the accreditation platforming them as a premier source of talent in the solar industry. 

Ortega said that GRID is preparing the workforce from the classroom to the rooftop.

A representative from the City of Fresno’s Deputy Chief of Staff office presented GRID CV with a certificate of recognition for its service to the community.

GRID CV Co-Executive Director Karina Gonzalez said they came up with the training program to provide hands-on training that meets the needs of individuals.

Gonzalez said they asked employers to help shape the curriculum to incorporate the skills they are looking to hire.

“We created a five-week, immersive, intense experience into the world of solar installation where a short term investment of time equates to a life-changing career path,” Gonzalez said.

After six-years of running the program, over 400 trainees have graduated, with more than 350 accepting employment in the industry, she noted.

GRID CV works with local companies including Solar Maintenance Pros, San Joaquin Electric, Barrier Solar, and also collaborates with Fresno Unified School District.

 

Community power

Vice President of GRID Alternative’s Workforce Development Program Adewale OgunBadejo said GRID CV is the first GRID Alternatives affiliate to receive IREC accreditation for the IBT 200 program.

“This accreditation is no small feat,” OgunBadejo said. “It signifies that Central Valley has built and maintained a workforce development program that not only meets but exceeds industry standards. It is a clear reflection of the rigor, care, and attention to detail that goes into ensuring that these programs create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for individuals and uplifting the communities we serve.”

The accreditation achievement isn’t just about meeting a standard, he said — it’s about setting a trend.

“By embedding a culture of a continuous process improvement, GRID CV ensures that the training programs can stay ahead of the curve, producing graduates who are not just competitive, but stand out as some of the most skilled and well prepared talent in the clean energy workforce, OgunBadejo said.

IREC Senior Program Manager of Workforce Training Claire Laurentine said that a year ago, GRID CV went through the rigorous, multi-month process of becoming accredited.

With the demand for clean energy skills growing, Laurentine said IREC accreditation provides critical validation of high-quality training programs that meet industry standards and benefit both trainees and the broader workforce.

“Accredited training programs are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring that the workforce is always equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge and practices,” Laurentine said.

What specifically made GRID CV stand out to IREC was that the IBT program incorporates real, on-the-roof solar installation into their training, Laurentine said, along with their extremely high job placement rate, a commitment to safety, and organizational-wide goal to build to build a diverse solar workforce.

Carlos Marmolejo, 28, one of the four graduating students, said he plans on starting his career in the solar industry, and then possibly branching off to become an electrician.

“It’s been something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now, and this opportunity with GRID Alternatives popped up and I took the opportunity,” Marmolejo said.

He said Proteus sponsored him in the program.

Marmolejo said GRID CV taught him how to safely bend conduit, lay down solar arrays, read blueprints and set up rooftop systems.

He has sent several applications out to local companies, and is hopeful for an interview soon.