Solar Training Lifts Chicago Communities

In my role as Sustainability Program Manager at HACIA in Chicago, my favorite part is the people. I love making connections and genuinely like meeting with our students, learning about them, and discovering how I can help them. I don’t go camping, but I’d be the best camper ever because I like to leave things better than I found them. I love helping people find their way in a career and in life. I spent many days working jobs I didn’t like, and some time unemployed. So if I can be the person I needed back then, that’s what I try to do now.

Community Solar Partnerships Mean Illinois Jobs

Today, many HACIA members are finding careers in green energy. Together, HACIA and Solar Landscape are empowering community members through hands-on solar installer trainings. HACIA now offers a free two-day workshop conducted by certified installers from Solar Landscape’s STEP UP program (Solar Training and Education Program for Underserved Populations). The trainings are made possible by forward-thinking companies like Public Storage, which partner with Solar Landscape to make green energy available to residents at a discount by hosting community solar projects on their rooftops.

A HACIA trainee listens to a training about solar installation conducted by Solar Landscape.

I’m a big proponent of renewable energy, partly because there’s a massive market for it. My job is to find work for people, so we’re big believers in our members pursuing renewable energy or solar jobs. That makes it very meaningful to see our graduates find fulfilling careers in clean energy fields like solar.

One of our graduates first came to HACIA to complete an electrical apprenticeship. He then took Solar Landscape’s two-day training. Afterward, he got hired by another solar company. It’s always a joy to hear these success stories. I love that there’s always work for them after trainings, and these companies are always willing to give our graduates a chance.

These industries produce more work than people realize. One solar panel can produce four or five different jobs. Not only the installer, but the design engineer, sales rep, and more.

Creating Workforce Diversity in Chicago Communities

It’s crucial that our workforce reflects the diversity of our residents and our communities. If we’re going to improve and build new things for our communities, then people who live in those communities should play a part in how they’re built. Hiring from within is extremely important because the project truly becomes a reflection of the community.

People can say, “Hey, I built that! I helped make our community cleaner and greener!”  That gives people pride and hope while creating business opportunities. You can’t simply build something for the community using people from outside of it because those jobs are needed by people who live there. Investing in infrastructure and renewables and hiring the person that lives across the street is so powerful.

One of my favorite stories is about Jose Suarez and his son, Jose Jr. They’ve owned a successful roofing company in Chicago for a long time and recently added solar installation to their offerings. They found out about the training from HACIA and Solar Landscape and both attended the Operations & Maintenance courses. In these courses, they learned how to make their operations more effective and efficient. For example, Jose Jr. learned how to use drones for solar panel inspections.

Thanks to these trainings, they’re growing their solar business at an even faster pace, creating jobs, reducing costs for their customers, and accelerating our clean energy transition.

Reducing Costs and Advancing Small Businesses

Green energy industries are bringing tangible benefits to the Chicago area. I’ve seen lower utility bills, more job opportunities, and more entrepreneurial opportunities too. It’s also helping our graduates grow financially.

In terms of Solar Landscape’s role in partnering with HACIA, I could talk for days about how great it’s been working with them. It has changed the way I see the solar installation world and it’s wonderful to know that HACIA has a supportive partner in Solar Landscape. We can tap Solar Landscape for training and expertise and know that they’re giving us the real details of this industry. Solar Landscape’s CCO Kevin Dunshee has spoken at our graduation for the past two years, and every year he brings down the house. It’s been a true partnership between two organizations passionate about teaching and getting a community to work.

Hector Tello, Sustainability Program Manager, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA)