The White House is looking to military bases and job-seeking veterans to boost its solar energy initiatives, calling it a win for the economy and the environment.
On Friday, administration officials announced a pair of new industry training programs for active-duty troops and unemployed veterans, as well plans to expand GI Bill benefits to cover new solar power programs.
Dan Utech, the White House’s deputy special assistant for energy and climate change, said the moves build off existing renewable energy initiatives while complimenting efforts to help service members transition from military to civilian life.
“These are good-paying jobs,” he said.
Officials had already announced plans to train 50,000 individuals in the solar industry over the next five years. The new announcements boost that total to 75,000 over the same span, with an unspecified number of veterans to be included in the trainee pool.
Among them will be active-duty troops getting ready to leave the force who take part in pilot programs at 10 military bases.
The Solar Ready Vets Program, a partnership between the departments of defense and energy, is already underway at three sites and will train about 200 service members in solar panel installation, electrical system repair and building code regulations.
Energy Department Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall said participants will also be guaranteed interviews with private sector solar firms upon completion of their six-week courses.
Labor Department officials have committed to better publicize and coordinate similar training programs for unemployed veterans, partnering with state workforce agencies to reach those individuals.
And Veterans Affairs officials are working with state approving agencies to ensure college programs focusing on solar industry jobs meet veterans education benefits requirements.
In March, President Obama built on past his federal energy goals by pledging to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent over the next decade and increase the share of renewable energy use to 30 percent in that span.
