Longstanding renewable energy agencies IREC and The Solar Foundation to combine –

The Solar Foundation
(TSF) and Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) to unite

The Solar Foundation and the
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) today announced they have signed an
agreement to merge into a single, expanded nonprofit dedicated to the rapid
adoption of clean energy.

The merger will combine the
strengths of two renowned national clean energy organizations, effectively
doubling the staff and quadrupling the impact. The Solar Foundation is a national
nonprofit dedicated to accelerating adoption of solar energy and related
technologies and, since its relaunch in 2010, has had a ten-year track record
of leading research, education, and capacity building programs. IREC has been a
trusted independent clean energy proponent for nearly 40 years, building a
foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy by tackling regulatory,
workforce, and economic barriers.

The combined organization will
support the accelerated growth of renewable energy and energy efficiency and a
100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable.

Over the coming months, the two
organizations will work together to integrate their programs, with the merger
anticipated to be completed in mid-2021. Once the merger is finalized, all of
The Solar Foundation’s programs will be combined at IREC.

Andrea Luecke, President and
Executive Director of The Solar Foundation has volunteered to step down from
her role in January 2020. She will still consult with the combined organizations.

Larry Sherwood, President and
Chief Operating Officer of IREC, will remain in his position and lead the
merged organization. Prior to the merger, he will work with The Solar
Foundation’s board to lead the organization as its new Administrator, effective
on November 16.

“I couldn’t be happier to
announce this timely and transformational strategic shift,” said Luecke,
President and Executive Director of The Solar Foundation. “I am extraordinarily
proud of my achievements building The Solar Foundation from scratch, and
creating, growing, and sustaining some of the solar industry’s most valuable
and cutting-edge programs. For over ten years, I gave it my all, but as my
Board and I steered our technology focus beyond solar, it became clear we
needed to pursue a strategic partnership that would allow us to have even more
impact in the decade to come. After much searching, I am pleased to have found
the perfect partner in IREC!”

“We are thrilled to join forces
with The Solar Foundation and welcome a new chapter in our organization’s
history — one that enables dramatically increased impact at a time when
progress on clean energy has never been more important,” said Sherwood.

IREC and The Solar Foundation
both lead robust workforce development programs with an emphasis on diversity,
inclusion, and equity in the clean energy fields. Both are deeply engaged with
state and local governments to help streamline codes and permitting
requirements and remove barriers to clean energy development.

The combined organization’s
scope will include all renewable energy technologies (distributed and
utility-scale) as well as energy efficiency. It will drive change via three
strategic pathways: regulatory engagement, workforce development, and local
initiatives (including permitting, code, and inspection issues). All programs
of both organizations will continue operating, including The Solar Foundation’s
Solar Jobs Census, U.S. Solar Industry Diversity Study, SolSmart, Solar Ready
Vets, and the Puerto Rican Solar Business Accelerator, as well as IREC’s
ongoing state regulatory engagement and its role as the sole accrediting body
for clean energy training in the United States.

“With the climate crisis on our
doorstep, now is the time to be practical and forge smart, strategic
partnerships to reduce inefficiencies and multiply our impact,” said Mary
Powell, Chair of the Board at The Solar Foundation. “This merger will broaden
the scope of both organizations, while reducing administrative burdens and
opening up opportunities for new initiatives. Together, The Solar Foundation
and IREC far exceed the sum of their parts, and I will be so excited to see
what the combined organization can accomplish in the crucial decade ahead!”

“Over the past decade, The
Solar Foundation has helped drive the solar industry’s exponential growth
through its acclaimed jobs research, capacity building, and workforce
development initiatives,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO of the
Solar Energy Industries Association. “IREC has also proven to be a leading
champion of the growth we have seen in clean, renewable energy. I am thrilled
to support the unified organization, which will be in a position to accomplish
even more in this crucial decade ahead.”

The merged organization will
maintain offices in Washington, D.C. and Albany, New York, with many employees
working on a remote basis.