Duke and SEI announce $10,000 scholarship for solar training –

Last week, Duke Energy
Renewables and Solar Energy International (SEI) announced a partnership to
provide a scholarship fund for Americans who have experienced recent job
displacement due to COVID-19.

The scholarship fund will
award $10,000 in solar training tuition fees for SEI training to selected
students to support professional development and eventual entry into the solar
energy workforce.

Focused on supporting
communities economically affected by COVID-19, the company’s scholarships aim
to empower soon-to-be solar energy experts with the necessary training to
quickly join a growing and secure solar workforce. To date, there is more than
62.5 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid in
the U.S. alone.

Those looking to apply for
scholarship funding must be interested in moving toward a vocation in renewable
energy in the U.S. and should demonstrate a financial need. Selected candidates
will be awarded tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training.

“As commercial solar energy
continues to grow across the country, trained solar technicians to manage solar
facilities and technology are in high demand,” said Chris Fallon, vice
president of Duke Energy Renewables.

“We sympathize with the
challenges many out-of-work Americans are facing during these uncertain
times and, at the same time, are excited to have an industry partner that is
willing to invest in providing valuable training opportunities for those most impacted
by COVID-19’s economic aftermath,” said Marla Korpar, development director at
SEI.