If you read our blog or receive GoSprout’s newsletter, you know that we talk about the benefits of apprenticeships all day, everyday and hope that more and more news sources start to spread the gospel.
And that is happening more and more. In this article, we’ll focus on some specific benefits or registered apprenticeships in the solar industry.
Shoutout to Solar Power World
In her article, “In-house apprenticeship programs help contractors capitalize on IRA tax credits,” Sara Carbone spells out how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has a nice impact on demand for solar energy apprenticeships.
Sara spells out the economic benefit as follows: “In order for 1-MW and larger solar projects to qualify for the enhanced value of the IRA’s tax credits, they must meet certain prevailing wage and apprentice (PW&A) requirements. Projects that comply with PW&A are eligible for a five-times enhanced credit.”
Sara goes on to highlight a number of programs that are doing it right:
- ReVision Energy Electrical Apprenticeship Program has a 4-year program that is even attracting talent from overseas.
- Blue Ridge Power’s PowerUp Apprenticeship program has a connected pre-apprenticeship program for high schoolers.
- Ideal Energy’s program is producing much-need journeymen at speed and they’re also seeing graduates of the program tend to be longer term employees
Challenges in the Solar Industry
The article mentions multiple times that journeymen are in short supply. Why are they in short supply? Because there aren’t enough electrical apprenticeships available but luckily that is changing with programs like these.
Another challenge mentioned is attracting talent. Much like with other industries, many young people don’t realize that apprenticeships are well-paid opportunities to earn and learn. The whole internships vs apprenticeships confusion persists.
Yet another challenge: confusion. But Sara concludes that guidance is moving in the right direction at the federal level. She quotes Laura Cataldo, at tax firm Baker Tilly: “Workforce goals and compliance requirements are becoming more standard in public projects stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the IRA.”
All sounds familiar, but the great news for apprenticeship employers is that both the Department of Labor and The White House have really stepped up their game in support of registered apprentices, which includes quite a bit of publicity highlighting grants and federal contracting requirements that are around the corner.
She also mentions how challenging it is to keep accurate records such as time tracking in support of PW&A.
How GoSprout Helps Facilitate Apprenticeships in the Solar Industry
Our friends at Radiance Solar in Atlanta wanted to become an apprenticeship sponsor and launch three tracks on a truncated timeline in early 2024.
And they went from feeling unsure about the requirements of having a registered apprenticeship and the related filings to having their three programs all within a little more than 90 days. Most importantly, they passed their Department of Labor check-in with flying colors.
And since we helped them launch their programs, we’ve made GoSprout even more powerful. We now integrate pre-apprenticeship hosting high schools as well.
So solar firms across the country should spend some time with us. We’ll be happy to talk you through how the various stakeholders come together to create amazing apprenticeships that graduate our nation’s youth with in-demand skills and ready to transition seamlessly into the workforce. We’ll also be happy to give you a guided tour of our apprenticeship tracking software.
