Maryland Solar Equity Initiative
Fall 2020 Solar Seminar for College Students
Seminar Overview
This seminar is for Historically Black Colleges & University students but open to other members of the Maryland Solar Equity Initiative 2020 (MD SEI 2020) and NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice community.
This workshop is for students interested in exploring a career in the solar industry. Students will be introduced to the Solar Industry and its Impact, the Science and Business of Solar and Solar Career Pathways.
● Six hours of virtual class time on a video conference platform, split into 2-3 sessions over 2-3 days
● Up to 2 hours of assignments outside of workshop hours
Course Description
The course will cover an introduction to the functions of the solar PV industry
- The basics of the electricity transmission and distribution structure in the USA
- Solar PV 101 - Intro to Science of Photovoltaics
- Existing solar-related state policies and their impacts
- Discussion on solar industry’s relation to and potential to address - climate change, environmental impact of fossil fuel usage, environmental injustice, and climate injustice
- Overview of process from client acquisition to installation completion and maintenance for residential, commercial and utility scale projects
- Introduction to and exploration of career pathways
- Industry perspectives by guest speaker(s) sharing their pathways
This seminar is for Historically Black Colleges & University students but open to other members of the Maryland Solar Equity Initiative 2020 (MD SEI 2020) and NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice community.
This workshop is for students interested in exploring a career in the solar industry. Students will be introduced to the Solar Industry and its Impact, the Science and Business of Solar and Solar Career Pathways.
● Six hours of virtual class time on a video conference platform, split into 2-3 sessions over 2-3 days
● Up to 2 hours of assignments outside of workshop hours
Course Description
The course will cover an introduction to the functions of the solar PV industry
- The basics of the electricity transmission and distribution structure in the USA
- Solar PV 101 - Intro to Science of Photovoltaics
- Existing solar-related state policies and their impacts
- Discussion on solar industry’s relation to and potential to address - climate change, environmental impact of fossil fuel usage, environmental injustice, and climate injustice
- Overview of process from client acquisition to installation completion and maintenance for residential, commercial and utility scale projects
- Introduction to and exploration of career pathways
- Industry perspectives by guest speaker(s) sharing their pathways
Solar in Your Community Webinar
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Webinar Overview
The NAACP Maryland State Conference, Environmental and Climate Justice Committee convened for the Maryland Solar Equity Initiative 2020 (MD SEI 2020) and hosted this Solar in Your Community webinar on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. MD SEI 2020 is designed to advance multiple civil rights challenges in Environmental and Climate Justice, specifically, Economic Development, Labor, Education, and Policy. This initiative:
Attendees This MD SEI 2020 webinar was free to attend and was presented in five sessions as described below. Attendees included those interested in climate change, are a recent college and high school / vocation school graduate, Renewable Energy business owner, minority, women-owned small solar installation business owner, not-for-profit organizations, homeowner, graduate student. |
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Sessions
Session A, 9:00 am
Solar in Your Community
We will provide an overview of the state of solar in Maryland.
Session B, 9:45 am
Introduction to Residential & Community Solar
We will share with homeowners incentives to offset the cost of solar installations in order to save money on their energy bills. We will also
discuss the benefits of community solar and how to initiate a community solar project. We will provide guidance low- and moderate-income residents can apply to qualify to receive solar on their home at no cost.
Session C, 10:30 am
Building a Clean Energy Workforce: Internships, Career Paths & Jobs
In this session, Graduate students, high school/vocational seniors and recent college graduates will learn about internships and career
pathways in the industry and engage with local, national and international energy company recruiters. Students will also receive guidance
on how they can participate in virtual career path workshops and entry-level solar job training.
Session D, 11:15 am
Small Business Owners
Small businesses will learn how to partner with HBCU CDAC to install solar in low- income communities surrounding Morgan State University, Bowie State University, Coppin State University, and University of Maryland - Eastern Shore. Participants will learn how the
selection criteria and review and application process to become the residential solar installation partner with HBCU CDAC for the
projected 30 installations in the State. HBCU CDAC representatives will be on hand to answer questions regarding the Baltimore Project and installation partner selection process. All minority, women-owned small solar installation business owners and not-for-profit
organizations are encouraged to attend the workshop.
Session E, 12:15 pm
Workforce Diversity and Policy Development Research Project
This session will feature the discussion of a unique research opportunity lead by HBCU CDAC in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officers (NASEO) to engage in research on disparities in the U.S. energy economy using both quantitative and qualitative
data and information analysis. The goal of the research project is to develop data-driven recommendations for state energy, economic
development, and workforce development policies and programs. The research project will also catalyze joint action on energy sector
workforce diversity by cultivating relationships among state-level energy policymakers and minority-serving academic institutions, with a focus on regions experiencing the largest job loss impacts due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Economic development
planners will learn how to contribute to policy workforce development.
Session A, 9:00 am
Solar in Your Community
We will provide an overview of the state of solar in Maryland.
Session B, 9:45 am
Introduction to Residential & Community Solar
We will share with homeowners incentives to offset the cost of solar installations in order to save money on their energy bills. We will also
discuss the benefits of community solar and how to initiate a community solar project. We will provide guidance low- and moderate-income residents can apply to qualify to receive solar on their home at no cost.
Session C, 10:30 am
Building a Clean Energy Workforce: Internships, Career Paths & Jobs
In this session, Graduate students, high school/vocational seniors and recent college graduates will learn about internships and career
pathways in the industry and engage with local, national and international energy company recruiters. Students will also receive guidance
on how they can participate in virtual career path workshops and entry-level solar job training.
Session D, 11:15 am
Small Business Owners
Small businesses will learn how to partner with HBCU CDAC to install solar in low- income communities surrounding Morgan State University, Bowie State University, Coppin State University, and University of Maryland - Eastern Shore. Participants will learn how the
selection criteria and review and application process to become the residential solar installation partner with HBCU CDAC for the
projected 30 installations in the State. HBCU CDAC representatives will be on hand to answer questions regarding the Baltimore Project and installation partner selection process. All minority, women-owned small solar installation business owners and not-for-profit
organizations are encouraged to attend the workshop.
Session E, 12:15 pm
Workforce Diversity and Policy Development Research Project
This session will feature the discussion of a unique research opportunity lead by HBCU CDAC in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officers (NASEO) to engage in research on disparities in the U.S. energy economy using both quantitative and qualitative
data and information analysis. The goal of the research project is to develop data-driven recommendations for state energy, economic
development, and workforce development policies and programs. The research project will also catalyze joint action on energy sector
workforce diversity by cultivating relationships among state-level energy policymakers and minority-serving academic institutions, with a focus on regions experiencing the largest job loss impacts due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Economic development
planners will learn how to contribute to policy workforce development.
Related Programs
Further, we recently interviewed Dr. Aminta Breaux's, President, Bowie State University, where the University's commitment to renewable energy and the merits of the Maryland Solar Equity Initiative 2020 was discussed.
Further, we recently interviewed Dr. Aminta Breaux's, President, Bowie State University, where the University's commitment to renewable energy and the merits of the Maryland Solar Equity Initiative 2020 was discussed.
The stakeholders for the national initiative are Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV SEIA) and Grid Alternatives. Locally, we have partnered with HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (CDAC) to help amplify our efforts in the Baltimore area, specifically, Morgan State University’s Morgan Mile. Our most important stakeholders are the four HBCUs in Maryland. We are working in concert with those universities to promote solar awareness and career opportunities for their graduate students, recent college and vocational school
graduates and high school seniors. In this convening, we have the support of major industry brands and stakeholders prepared to discuss
solar industry skills training and career paths with an entree to internships and careers in the Green economy.
Environmental and Climate Justice Committee Contact: ecj@pgcnaacp.org
graduates and high school seniors. In this convening, we have the support of major industry brands and stakeholders prepared to discuss
solar industry skills training and career paths with an entree to internships and careers in the Green economy.
Environmental and Climate Justice Committee Contact: ecj@pgcnaacp.org