The IREC Blog

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) today announced the creation of a new cross-sector initiative to improve clean energy education, training, and job placement efforts and outcomes.  The National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance (“The Alliance”), supported with grant funding from Bank of America, will align the efforts...

The Sustainable Energy Action Committee and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council today announced the launch of a new clearinghouse website housing educational resources and recommendations related to the permitting and inspection of clean energy systems. The website can be accessed at: https://sustainableenergyaction.org/.  The Sustainable Energy Action Committee (SEAC) brings together diverse clean energy stakeholders to...

The Veterans Pathways were developed under the Solar Ready Vets Network, a national solar workforce development initiative led by IREC that connects transitioning service members and veterans with training, career development resources, and jobs

A new paper, Key Decisions for Hosting Capacity Analyses, shares key lessons about a new grid mapping tool that can help utilities and states better integrate clean energy technologies on the electric grid.

IREC announced that it has merged with The Solar Foundation, welcoming The Solar Foundation’s staff and programs into a single, expanded nonprofit dedicated to the rapid adoption of clean energy.

Transportation electrification is essential to helping states and the federal government achieve their energy and climate targets. Electric vehicles (EVs) can provide myriad benefits, from reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions to vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services—in which electric vehicles can both charge from and send energy back to the grid, providing grid benefits.  Before V2G...

2021 was a busy year full of exciting projects, milestones, and new synergies at IREC! Despite the challenges of the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, at IREC we’re heartened to reflect on the many wins we achieved to advance our vision of a 100% clean energy economy. None of this would have been possible...

In the Puerto Rican solar industry, much remains to be done to achieve equity and inclusion.

Through the Solar Ready Vets Network, IREC is connecting service members and veterans with solar training and career pathways, and advancing the industry’s efforts to invest in military talent as part of a broader, long-term workforce development strategy.

The IREC-led SolSmart program is excited to release an updated version of the national Simplified Permit Guidelines for residential solar and battery storage.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm is challenging 60 new communities to achieve SolSmart designation in the next six months.

In 2017, Oklahoma City only issued one permit for residential solar. Yet local officials saw untapped potential for solar energy in Oklahoma’s largest metro area, and they worked with SolSmart to achieve Bronze designation that year as a stepping stone to future growth. Their predictions were well founded: Recent years have seen a surge of interest in...

This position has closed. Director of Workforce Programs Type: 100% of full-time; exemptPosition reports to: Vice President for Workforce DevelopmentSalary range: $100-110KLocation: FlexibleBenefits: Health insurance, retirement match, personal time off, flexible work schedule IREC is a nonprofit working toward a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. Our mission is to build the foundation for rapid...

A workforce development program for high school students models how valuable career maps can be in helping students connect classroom content to future careers.

IREC's SolSmart program has released new guidance to help local officials apply an equity lens toward their plans to expand solar energy use.

While the immediate disaster has ended, far more remains to be done to build a resilient and prosperous future for this island home to more than 3 million Americans.

UNPREDICTABLEcity, part of the newest cohort of SolSmart Advisors, is working to help the entire Central Ohio region enjoy the benefits of solar energy.

In the final installment of our team features series, which highlights IREC’s staff and programs following the official merger with The Solar Foundation, we are excited to introduce the Regulatory Engagement program!

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Yochi Zakai, attorney with Shute, Mahaly, and Weinberger representing Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). The two discuss hosting capacity analysis and how publicly shared grid information can help solar developers, electric customers, and others make more informed decisions.

SolSmart Announces New Advisors and Partners! SolSmart has continued to grow rapidly since its public launch in April 2016. Over 400 municipalities, counties, and regional organizations nationwide have earned Bronze, Silver, and Gold designations for fostering the development of local solar markets.  Today, the program continues to focus on helping additional local governments tap into...

We talked with the Local Initiatives team to discuss the focus of the team’s work, projects they’re currently working on, what they like best about what they do, and why they’re excited about the merger.

The national SolSmart program has selected new Advisor organizations to provide hands-on local assistance helping communities from Idaho to Puerto Rico encourage the growth of solar energy.

IREC and partners today announced the launch of a three-year, $2.1 million project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), to reduce barriers to widespread adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) by providing education and resources to expand the knowledge of 30,000 safety professionals.