Duke Energy Renewables Provides $10,000 to Jump-start Job Readiness in U.S. Commercial Solar Energy Industry
Thursday, June 25th, 2020
Duke Energy Renewables and Solar Energy International (SEI) today announced their partnership to provide a scholarship fund to assist Americans who have experienced recent job displacement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scholarship fund will award $10,000 in solar training tuition fees for SEI online or in-person training to selected students to support their professional development and eventual entry into the solar energy workforce.
“As commercial solar energy continues to grow across the country, trained solar technicians to manage solar facilities and technology are in high demand,” said Chris Fallon, vice president of Duke Energy Renewables. “We’re proud to support individuals interested in entering the solar energy field, which will bring new talent and ideas to the industry.”
The amount of solar energy connected to the grid has reached over 62.5 gigawatts in the U.S. This has resulted in the creation of thousands of new solar industry jobs, with more than 240,000 people currently employed and many more likely to be needed in the future.
Focused on supporting communities economically affected by the pandemic, Duke Energy Renewables’ SEI scholarships have been established with the goal of empowering soon-to-be solar energy experts with the necessary training to quickly join a growing and secure solar workforce.
“We sympathize with the challenges many out-of-work Americans are facing during these uncertain times and, at the same time, are excited to have an industry partner that is willing to invest in providing valuable training opportunities for those most impacted by COVID-19’s economic aftermath,” said Marla Korpar, development director at SEI.
Those looking to apply for scholarship funding must be interested in moving toward a vocation in renewable energy in the U.S. and should demonstrate a financial need. Candidates selected by SEI will be awarded tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training.
For more information and to apply for a Duke Energy Renewables scholarship, visit: www.solarenergy.org/scholarship-funds.