GRID Alternatives Hosts Clean Energy Job Fair during the 2023 RE+ Midwest Event in Chicago
Oakland, California – GRID Alternatives and trusted community partner Elevate are hosting the RE+ Midwest Clean Energy Job Fair in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday, November 15th, 10am – 1pm CST at Palmer House, Hilton Hotel. The Clean Energy Job Fair will bring diverse job seekers with industry expertise and transferable skills, and the best solar and clean energy employers in the region under one roof, to connect and learn about all that the booming Midwest Clean Energy industry has to offer!
GRID Alternatives is hosting this job fair as part of its efforts to foster an accessible, diverse, and inclusive transition to clean energy in conjunction with the larger efforts led by RE+ Events to support a strong, equitable solar industry, and their commitment to ensuring that every person has a place in the future of the renewable energy industry.
“GRID is proud to work with trusted community partner Elevate on this event,” said Adewale Ogunbadejo, GRID’s Vice President of Workforce Development. “Increasing the clean energy workforce in a way that addresses equity is incredibly important as we work to bring renewable energy solutions to the communities we serve. This job fair provides the chance for employers and job seekers to learn, connect, and engage about green career opportunities as the sector works to expand and strengthen the workforce and our local economies.”
The solar industry has been growing rapidly for years, and the passage of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is leading to a transformative expansion of the clean energy sector. Some reports suggest that the industry could employ more than one million Americans by 2030. According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) 2022 National Solar Job Census, as of December 2022, there were 263,883 solar workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To ensure a just transition to clean energy, it is critical that the solar industry is diverse and representative of all communities, especially those that can most benefit from clean energy solutions.
Job fair attendees will learn about many different types of clean energy jobs and green career opportunities including Installation, Design, Permitting, Project Management and Scheduling, Human Resources, Electricians, Logistics Coordinators, Mechanical & Electrical Engineers, CAD Drafters, Data Analysts, and more! The job fair is free to all job seekers and will provide a dedicated space for clean energy companies, industry employers, and other stakeholders to engage and connect.
To inquire about an employer table or sponsorships, please contact Adewale OgunBadejo, at aogunbadejo@gridalternatives.org. Space is limited!
About the organizations
About GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives is an international, U.S.-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that builds community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. GRID works in the U.S., Mexico, Nepal, and Nicaragua and has installed solar photovoltaic systems on more than 29,500 homes and affordable housing developments in underserved communities while providing more than 33,200 individuals with workforce development training. GRID also provides clean mobility solutions and battery storage and is a leading voice in low-income solar policy development in the U.S. Installation Basics Training (IBT), a competency-based certificate program designed to develop the skills most relevant to entry-level solar installation jobs and related construction employment fields. Trainees learn solar installation skills, OSHA 10 safety standards, first aid and CPR, and soft skills, including interpersonal communication and dependability, to help job trainees obtain and sustain employment.
About Elevate
Elevate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works nationally and is headquartered in Chicago. Elevate seeks to create a just and equitable world in which everyone has clean and affordable heat, power, and water in their homes and communities — no matter who they are or where they live. Our programs, policy agenda, and partners reflect this commitment.
Making the benefits and services of the clean energy economy accessible to everyone is how we fight climate change while supporting equity. We design and implement programs that reduce costs, protect people and the environment, and ensure the benefits of clean and efficient energy use reach those who need them most.
