Last month, GRID Alternatives Colorado (GRID) and Solar Energy International (SEI) joined together to engage more women in the solar industry. Both GRID and SEI recognize that women continue to be underrepresented in the solar workforce and are committed to developing and leading job training programs that provide women with pathways to access technical careers in the solar industry.
In August, SEI and GRID kicked off their partnership with GRID’s second annual We Build Retreat in Fort Collins, Colorado. The retreat brought together forty-five women from around the country to start construction on the 1.95 megawatt Coyote Ridge Community Solar Array – the largest built in GRID’s history – and to participate in service learning for those interested or working in solar-related careers. The event brought participants together to build with their hands, but also build a framework for women to thrive in the renewable energy industry.
The We Build Retreat is a signature event that expands on the existing efforts of both GRID Alternatives and SEI to support women in the solar industry. The solar industry is rapidly expanding, representing one out of every fifty new jobs added in the U.S. with women representing 28% of the solar workforce according to the 2016 National Solar Jobs Census.
For Vicky Mandell, Board President of GRID Colorado, We Build was a special example of GRID’s mission in action. Vicky told the group how the support of women had provided her with opportunities to grow throughout her career. “GRID wants women to succeed in the solar industry,” said Vicky. “Through GRID’s Women in Solar Program, our organization is working to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive solar industry that includes pathways to technical careers for women.”
Solar Energy International (SEI) sponsored the retreat through their Solar Ready Colorado effort which provides SEI’s PV technical training to Colorado residents in the solar industry. SEI is committed to extending professional development opportunities to women employed or interested in the solar industry and offered scholarships to five attendees of the WE Build Retreat. The scholarships enable recipients to participate in SEI’s online or in-person solar technical training courses. Scholarship recipient and GRID volunteer Erica Cook said “The scholarship will allow me to further my solar education. This will open more doors for me as a woman in construction so that I can better support my family and continue to help improve my community and the lives of the people that reside there.”
GRID Colorado and Solar Energy International plan on continuing their partnership to support the more than 72,000 women in the solar industry. Kathy Swartz of SEI said of the partnership “Since SEI’s founding in 1991, we’ve supported programs and scholarships to get more women into solar and encourage the diversification of the industry. As Executive Director of SEI, it’s my honor to continue to expand these opportunities with partners like GRID Alternatives.”
