Goodwill launches solar workforce training program in Aurora

Colorado’s clean energy boom has hit a bottleneck: a shortage of trained workers to keep pace with the demand.
Goodwill of Colorado is stepping up to meet the demand.

Ranking ninth in the nation for solar capacity with more than 8,000 people employed across nearly 380 companies, Colorado is seeing its green-tech growth threatened by a persistent labor gap.

Starting Aug. 10, Goodwill will launch its inaugural Solar Installation Basics course at its Excel Center in Aurora. The no-cost, hands-on training initiative is designed to equip local job seekers with industry-recognized credentials, real-world skills and a path to sustainable, high-paying careers in solar and energy storage.

The program expands the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator (GCTA), a national framework developed by Goodwill Industries International and Accenture.

Goodwill of Colorado introduced the GCTA locally last July with its Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment maintenance course.
Now, Goodwill is replicating that success in the solar sector, targeting underemployed people, veterans, justice-impacted individuals and career changers.

The four-week curriculum is broken down into two phases:

• Week 1 covers foundational skills, such as construction fundamentals, job safety and personal protective equipment exercises. Students will earn their OSHA 10 and CPR/First Aid/AED certifications.
• During Weeks 2 through 4, students receive 120 hours of specialized installation training and earn IronRidge Installer credentials. They also become eligible for NABCEP continuing education units while receiving a $ 15-per-hour stipend.

“What’s really neat is that there are so many different pathways you can get into,” said James Sanchez, director of education and training at Goodwill of Colorado.

“At the end, we’ll have employers on site and interviewing students with the hope of making offers pretty quickly.”
Industry partners include Namaste Solar and Grid Alternative, which helped create the curriculum.

Before students even start classes, they meet with Goodwill’s job development staff to help with resumes, cover letters and interviewing skills.

They’re also given Goodwill gift cards to shop for appropriate work clothing, and a “navigator” or case manager works with students who are experiencing barriers. They’ll provide services Goodwill doesn’t offer, such as mental health, childcare and substance abuse resources. Transportation assistance is also available.

To support the new curriculum, Goodwill invested nearly $500,000 to build out a dedicated 5,100-square-foot solar lab. Inside, students train on authentic equipment, including a 24-by-15-foot mock roof featuring a 45-degree pitch.

Trainees practice harness safety, bolt racking systems to crossbeams, run electrical conduit, and install live solar panels and battery storage units.

“This is a hands-on experience for our students,” Sanchez said.