Solar and energy efficiency jobs offer a living wage and do not require a college degree. Bright Solar Futures and the Green Retrofit Immersive Training program are initiatives that prepare Pennsylvania’s to fill jobs, growing a diverse workforce that will help make national climate priorities a reality. diversifying the energy industry while meeting employer demand for a trained workforce.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office funded Bright Solar Futures (BSF) program is Pennsylvania’s first vocational high school program in solar energy and the first program of its kind in the nation. The recently completed BSF Solar Lab provides a state of the art teaching and learning environment for BSF students.

PECO is the lead sponsor for the Frankford High School Solar Lab

Donate to the new Frankford Solar Lab. PEA is currently accepting financial and in-kind contributions for the new solar lab at Frankford High School. The lab houses Pennsylvania’s first vocational high school solar program.

Host an intern. PEA places Bright Solar Futures graduates into funded summer internships each year. If you work in the clean energy sector and are interested in hosting one of our students as an intern, contact info@philaenergy.org.

Adult Training

PEA’s partner organizations offer no-cost solar training programs for adults. Contact the Energy Coordinating Agency and Philadelphia OIC to learn more.

Green Retrofit Immersive Training (GRIT) Program

PEA launched the Green Retrofit Immersive Training (GRIT) Program in 2021, which has three core components: an 12-week hybrid training including hands-on labs, a 6-week internship rehabilitating affordable housing units, and placement into living wage jobs with contractors performing green home retrofits. The 12-week Retrofit Installer Technician training will take place at the Energy Coordinating Agency and prepare students for five industry certifications including OSHA 10, OSHA 40 HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response), EPA Lead RRP, BPI WHASI (Whole House Air Sealing and Insulation), and NCCER Level 1 (Carpentry, Electrical, and Plumbing).

The internship is being hosted by Friends Rehabilitation Program in partnership with the Provisional Vocational Training Center. GRIT participants will receive a weekly $500 stipend for full participation in the training and internship. The program is recruiting now for its second cohort that will begin May 9th. Interested candidates can contact Lisa Padilla at the Energy Coordinating Agency to apply (215.609.1457; lisap@ecasys.org).

GRIT Program Flyer 2022

Bright Solar Futures

PEA partnered with the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) to start training high school students for solar jobs in 2017 and placed 20 of the successful trainees into paid internships in the clean energy sector. Collaboration with a robust network of partners, sponsorship by PECO and a $1.25 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office made these programs possible.

High School CTE Program, Aug 2020 – May 2023. Pennsylvania’s first vocational high school solar program kicked off in Fall of 2020 at Frankford High School. A new cohorts of 10th grade students will be added each year. Current 9th grade students interested in joining the class can transfer to Frankford High School to enroll in the program.

PowerCorpsPHL Fellowship, Jan – May 2022. PEA will support a second Bright Solar Futures PowerCorpsPHL Fellowship in 2022. PEA has developed a parallel training pathway for Opportunity Youth in partnership with PowerCorpsPHL. The participants are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old and have already completed PowerCorpsPHL’s Foundations Program. The Fellowship is a 680-hour training, making it the most robust solar curriculum offered in Philadelphia to-date.

Visit the PowerCorpsPHL website to join and become eligible to participate in this advanced training program. All successful trainees are connected to a 10-week internship and job opportunities.

Adult Training

PEA’s partner organizations offer no-cost solar training programs for adults. Contact the Energy Coordinating Agency and Philadelphia OIC to learn more.

Green Retrofit Immersive Training (GRIT) Program

PEA launched the Green Retrofit Immersive Training (GRIT) Program in 2021, which has three core components: an 12-week hybrid training including hands-on labs, a 6-week internship rehabilitating affordable housing units, and placement into living wage jobs with contractors performing green home retrofits. The 12-week Retrofit Installer Technician training will take place at the Energy Coordinating Agency and prepare students for five industry certifications including OSHA 10, OSHA 40 HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response), EPA Lead RRP, BPI WHASI (Whole House Air Sealing and Insulation), and NCCER Level 1 (Carpentry, Electrical, and Plumbing).

The internship is being hosted by Friends Rehabilitation Program in partnership with the Provisional Vocational Training Center. GRIT participants will receive a weekly $500 stipend for full participation in the training and internship. The program is recruiting now for its second cohort that will begin May 9th. Interested candidates can contact Lisa Padilla at the Energy Coordinating Agency to apply (215.609.1457; lisap@ecasys.org).

GRIT Program Flyer 2022