Mayor Jim Kenney, Superintendent William Hite, PECO CEO Mike Innocenzo and others joined the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) to celebrate a milestone in Pennsylvania’s equitable transition to clean energy with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of a new solar training lab at Frankford High School.
Bright Solar Futures (BSF), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office, PECO and other industry partners, provides access to solar careers for young Philadelphians.
The three-year career and technical education (CTE) vocational program will launch young people into careers in clean energy.
“Philadelphia is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, and that effort will create thousands of jobs,” says Mayor Kenney. “We need our young people to have access to those careers, and this lab will ensure they do. Congratulations to the school district, Frankford High School and the Philadelphia Energy Authority on this important milestone.”
“Supporting Bright Solar Futures and the opening of this new solar training lab is at the intersection of two very important priorities for us at PECO – supporting clean energy resources to mitigate the impact of climate change and furthering initiatives to spur the clean energy workforce of tomorrow,” states Mike Innocenzo, president and CEO at PECO.
“We are so proud to be here today at Frankford with these partners and these students. Solar is the fastest-growing job in Pennsylvania, and this lab will ensure equitable access to these jobs,” comments Emily Schapira, CEO of PEA. “Bright Solar Futures students train in solar and battery storage installation, sales and design, along with weatherization, construction basics and job site safety, ensuring that Philadelphia has the best-trained clean energy workforce in the region.”
PEA is an independent municipal authority building an equitable clean energy economy in Philadelphia. PEA has facilitated over $167 million in clean energy projects in Philadelphia since launching the Philadelphia Energy Campaign in 2016, creating more than 1,700 jobs.
Source: Ariana Fine, Solar Industry Magazine
Image credit: Solar Industry Magazine
