By: Dwight Daniels In 2022, the City of Houston received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for a solar jobs program to provide career opportunities for residents without college degrees and living in under-resourced and underserved neighbor-hoods. The city turned to HCC for help in putting training in place. Th e college received about $250,000 to cover tuition, fees, tools and exams to train interested students in solar photovoltaic installation skills through next summer. Now, a year aft er receiving the grant, five graduates have earned their certificates at the HCC South Campus in classes held over 10 weeks. “Houston and its surrounding areas, with abundant sunlight, have significant potential for solar energy generation,” said George Davis, Continuing Education-Construction Trades director at HCC’s Central College. “Our certificates are designed to equip residents and businesses with the knowledge to effectively harness this renewable energy source.” As the demand for sustainable energy solutions grows, so does the need for a skilled workforce. “As a major energy hub,Houston can lead this transition by training professionals through dedicated solar classes,” Davis said. Gabe Cuadra, a former energy executive teaches the class to give students the confidence they will need to install solar systems on their own in a career sector that is growing at about 4.8 % annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Th e median salary for such jobs is about $49,000 per year. “We provide a strong balance of theory and hands-on application,” Cuadra said. “It is really rewarding to see students who initially tried to memorize concepts, grow to completely understand them when they make the theory happen firsthand.” New certificate holder, Travell Williams, moved to Houston from Chicago two years ago and heard about HCC’s offerings. “I was a soft ware engineer in the tech industry, but I knew I was in a career field where layoff s were happening all the time,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of the green energy field because everyone should be concerned about energy independence.” Williams said he plans on earning more HCC certifications […]
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