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Amicus Operations and Maintenance Cooperative (AOMC) has secured a significant three-year, $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, as part of the Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships initiative. The program, partially funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to accelerate the adoption of solar energy technologies while fostering greater diversity and inclusion within the solar workforce.
The Solar O&M High Road Training Partnership, spearheaded by AOMC, focuses on promoting equity, safety, and professional quality among Operations and Maintenance (O&M) technicians in the solar industry. Through standardized training, certification programs, and workforce development efforts, the initiative aims to create new career pathways and opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged communities and energy justice populations.
Ms. Bybee, a representative of AOMC, highlighted the pressing need for comprehensive training and certification programs for O&M professionals, particularly in light of the anticipated quadrupling of solar industry growth over the next decade. She emphasized the importance of increasing diversity within the technician pool to provide access to sustainable and rewarding careers.
Key partners in this initiative include Solar Energy International, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), ENTITY Academy, Black Owners of Solar Services (B.O.S.S.), and Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain. Together, they aim to enroll 1,000 new trainees in partner training programs, provide scholarships worth $100,000 to individuals from disadvantaged communities, introduce a new associate certification, and integrate with existing training and apprenticeship programs to expand the O&M workforce.
The Solar O&M High Road Training Partnership has established a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee (AC) to guide its efforts. The AC will work to standardize competency frameworks for O&M technicians across various system scales and develop associated training program standards to ensure a robust workforce pipeline from disadvantaged communities. |
