SEIA reports: Powering the Future: Fellowship Success Story Lights the Way for Solar Workforce Development


At the heart of a just energy transition is a commitment to workforce equity—and our latest Fellowship Program proves that when we invest in people, we build a stronger, more inclusive solar future.

Read the full story on SEIA’s blog: https://seia.org/success-story-nexamp/ or click here. 

Launched in 2024 as a first-of-its-kind STEM-based partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, our Renewable Energy Fellowship was designed to open doors for students from underrepresented communities to explore careers in clean energy. What began as a bold idea quickly evolved into a transformative experience for our growing cohorts of fellows.

Over the course of 8 weeks, fellows engage in a dynamic mix of hands-on learning, site visits to utility-scale solar farms, mentorship from industry leaders, and project-based work aligned with real business needs. From understanding grid integration to shadowing engineers and project developers, participants gain firsthand exposure to what it takes to build and sustain solar infrastructure at scale.

The results are powerful. Over 90% of our third cohort of fellows are preparing to pursue careers in clean energy upon satisfying their academic requirements. These future leaders are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and industry connections to thrive in the fast-growing renewable energy sector.

Even more inspiring are their stories: a first-generation college student now exploring procurement logistics, a young woman from the South Side now pursuing an engineering degree, and a FEJA program graduate who has accepted an apprenticeship with the Carpenters Union, finding renewed purpose through a clean energy opportunity.

This fellowship isn’t just about workforce development—it’s about community investment, climate justice, and economic mobility.

As we look ahead, we’re expanding our fellowship model to new cities and deepening our ties with local colleges, workforce boards, and labor partners. Our goal is clear: to build a pipeline of diverse, homegrown talent that will lead the solar sector for decades to come.

We’re proud of what our fellows have accomplished—and we’re just getting started.