• DallasLocation: Hatcher Station Training Farm, 4500 Todd St., Dallas 75210
• AustinLocation: American YouthWorks, 1901 E. Ben White Blvd., Austin 78741
Join Green Careers Texas for lunch time “Meet & Greets” during upcoming solar installation trainings. These events connect businesses with skilled individuals ready to make their mark in the solar industry.
The Texas Solar Energy Society approves and endorses this proven training model.
Access to Trained Installers: Meet candidates who have completed the training and are ready to work. Students are motivated, reliable, and have a passion for working outdoors. These individuals value teamwork, timely communication, and a keen interest in contributing to the sustainable energy landscape.
Invest in Talent: The solar industry is booming, offering living wage work starting from $18 to $20/hour, often with benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans.
Support Green Careers: By participating, you’ll be supporting Green Careers Texas’ mission to empower individuals with innovative employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
Questions? Please contact Tracy Wallace at info@greencareerstexas.org. Green Careers Texas aims to empower individuals through innovative employment opportunities.
by Steven Ùgalde, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator
Recently, I had the privilege of attending a solar installation training program, where prospective students gathered to learn how to properly install solar panels. Organized by Green Careers Texas, this two-day event aimed to empower participants with the skills they need to kickstart their journey in the solar industry.
The training took place at American YouthWorks in Austin on March 22nd and 23rd, and offered participants a hands-on learning experience. This opportunity was made possible by the generous donation of solar panels from TXSES Business Members, Lighthouse Solar. Among those present were Tracy Wallace, executive director of Green Careers Texas, and TXSES’s Patrice “Pete” Parsons, along with 12 students.
Green Careers Texas is a guiding light, providing numerous solar PV installation trainings that serve as a pathway to stable income in the solar sector. Their mission is clear: to tackle poverty and increase solar energy head-on by providing green career training and education. They strive to bridge the gap between employers and diverse qualified individuals in the field of solar PV installation, ensuring opportunities for all.
As I spoke with participants and trainers, it became evident that access to jobs in the solar industry is not only crucial for economic gain, but also about equality and protecting our planet through environmental justice and advocacy of underrepresented groups within the solar field. The National Solar Jobs Census revealed the struggles solar companies face in hiring skilled workers, especially from underrepresented groups, such as people of color and women. However, initiatives like Green Careers Texas are actively working to address this issue by equipping students with the skills they need and the tools needed to thrive in the clean energy industry.
One attendee, Aaron who is from west Texas, shared his motivation for joining the program: “I’m eager to learn about solar energy and contribute to a healthy change, especially in depleting natural resources.”
Similarly, Annie, another participant, emphasized the importance of cleaner and sustainable energy, stating, “I want to build a better platform and make a positive impact on the environment.”
Katelyn, who is participating through the YouthWorks program with Green Careers Texas, said she dreams of a future where she can install her own solar panels on her van and lead a life on the road.
As for Angel, another attendee, he stated, “I’m participating in the YouthWorks program and am eager to explore new opportunities and industries, particularly renewable energy. My parents keep me motivated, and I’m interested in keeping up-to-date and informed. This is my first time taking the class, and I appreciate the hands-on learning and the enthusiasm from the instructors.”
Nacho Ignacio Martinez, one of the training’s instructors, shared his motivation in wanting to teach these students: “I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to instruct at the Solar Installation training program hosted by Green Careers Texas. Witnessing participants embrace new skills and knowledge, and the prospect of passing that on, is truly gratifying. Having completed the training myself, I now look forward to teaching others about solar and embarking on personal projects, including one for myself. A big shoutout to Tracy and Mark (McCollum), Ed (Wise), and Dylan (Brown), the lead trainers, for their invaluable support throughout.”
Green Careers Texas is hoping to change lives and communities for the better by offering opportunities in sustainability-focused jobs, particularly for those who’ve been overlooked in the past. These programs aren’t just empowering individuals, but also driving positive change in our local communities.
Tracy Wallace of Green Careers Texas explained, “We are thrilled to be working with Austin YouthWorks. Trainees who have experience with power tools and construction already are ideal to work with. The bonus is they each have a heart for service.”
As the solar industry continues to evolve, the need for a skilled and diverse workforce becomes increasingly important. By supporting organizations like TXSES and Green Careers Texas, we can all play a role in shaping a brighter, more sustainable future.
If you would like to hire one of these students, please reach out to Tracy Wallace at tracy@greencareerstexas.org.
Learn more about Green Careers Texas and how you can get involved at: greencareerstexas.org.
Since 2016, the not-for-profit Green Careers Dallas (GCD) has been helping those in greatest need of access become part of Texas’ rapidly growing solar workforce. Under the visionary leadership of Tracy Wallace, disadvantaged communities in Dallas now have opportunities for social, environmental and economic justice through renewable energy.
“The inspiration to recruit hard-to-employ yet highly-motivated individuals for solar training came from Catching the Sun, a 2015 documentary on the solar industry,” said Wallace. “It featured unemployed workers in Richmond, California who were being trained for careers in the solar industry and I wondered why we couldn’t do that here in southern Dallas.”
South Dallas is an underserved inner-city community. Per capita income in South Dallas is 45% lower than the national average while the median household income in South Dallas is 37% lower than the national average. The unemployment rate in South Dallas is 33% higher than the national average, and the poverty level in South Dallas is 100% lower than the national average. Both homeownership and vehicle ownership rates are low, and the area is a food desert.
Image: Green Careers Dallas
“We recruit individuals who are less than 200% of federal poverty-level income,” said Wallace. “That includes un- or under-employed, returning citizens and veterans. There’s no cost for training these populations. GCD is the only place in Dallas with this kind of training. We’re committed to helping our students succeed.”
From 2017 through 2019, GCD has been combining technical classroom training with practical hands-on lab learning and vital safety information. When the pandemic hit, GCD changed its model to an 18-hour 100% hands-on training including rooftop training in safety harness systems. All GCD students are required to take the OSHA 10 training, a 10-hour training that teaches basic safety and health information to entry-level workers in construction and general industry.
Through a contract with the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), GCD and The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) are developing curriculum and outreach to low-to-moderate income communities (LMI) expanding GCD’s reach to Austin and Houston. From Classroom to Career: Building the Pipeline for Texas’ Clean Energy Workforce will engage with students, trainers, and teachers to define the future of clean energy education and training. The training will allow students to gain access to entry and mid-level positions with solar and other clean energy businesses.
Image: Green Careers Dallas
“These state funds will enable TXSES to leverage its renowned educational and outreach expertise to build a statewide training and education framework that will result in a well-trained, highly-qualified solar energy workforce of sufficient size and diversity to meet the projected needs of high penetrations of distributed solar energy in Texas,” said Patrice Parsons, Executive Director Texas Solar Energy Society.
The SECO initiative is ambitious. According to Wallace, GCD will hold a total of 12 trainings –four each in Austin, Dallas and Houston over the next 30 months.
Training has already begun in Dallas. To help students with hands-on skills, each location must build a training rooftop. “Each training can host up to 10 students,” said Wallace. “Our next training will be bilingual, offered in both English and Spanish, as required by SECO.”
Since 2017, GCD has trained 55 LMI individuals in entry-level solar PV installation and solar safety with a 60% placement rate, although not all have entered the solar workforce. “Lack of transportation is probably one of the biggest challenges for our students,” she said. “Employers have a difficult time retaining these entry-level employees because of transportation issues.”
According to Wallace, access to opportunities and basic services is what’s missing in these communities: access to transportation, health care, safe housing and living wage work in growing industries such as solar installation. “Our very first instructor, himself from an LMI community in California, told us that there is a brilliance and resilience of those living in our low-income neighborhoods. What’s missing is access to opportunities. We’re here to provide access to living wage opportunities in the solar workforce with pathways for career advancement,” she said.
To learn more about Green Careers Dallas, click here.
