50 Tribal Members to Get Free Solar Jobs Training

Fifty Native Americans across five states are getting a direct path to careers in one of the country's fastest-growing industries.

Reactivate, a Chicago-based renewable energy company, has partnered with Tribal Energy Alternatives to launch a workforce training program in Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Washington. The initiative offers hands-on solar installation training, industry certifications, and job placement support at no cost to participants.

Trainees will receive OSHA 10 and CPR certifications, making them job-ready upon completion. The program includes stipends to support participants during training, resume assistance, and access to a dedicated solar training lab where they can practice real-world installation skills.

The timing couldn't be better. Solar companies, utilities, and grid modernization projects are facing serious worker shortages as demand for clean energy infrastructure skyrockets. This program addresses that gap while creating economic opportunities in communities that have historically faced employment barriers.

Reactivate CEO Utopia Hill says the partnership aims to solve two problems at once: filling critical jobs in the clean energy sector and expanding career opportunities for tribal members. The company, which develops community solar projects, battery storage, and EV charging stations, was founded by major clean energy firm Invenergy and investment company Lafayette Square.

Tanksi Clairmont, Co-Executive Director of Tribal Energy Alternatives, emphasizes that the program is designed for long-term impact. It's not just about filling immediate job openings but creating sustainable career pathways in an industry that will only continue growing.

The Ripple Effect

This initiative represents more than job training. For tribal communities, it's a step toward energy sovereignty and economic self-determination. Solar installation jobs typically pay well above minimum wage and offer opportunities for advancement into project management, electrical work, and energy consulting.

As these 50 trainees enter the workforce, they'll bring valuable skills back to their communities. Some may launch their own solar businesses on tribal lands. Others might train the next generation of workers or help their tribes develop independent renewable energy projects.

The program also demonstrates how targeted workforce development can address inequality in emerging industries. By removing financial barriers through stipends and free training, it ensures that economic opportunities in the clean energy transition reach communities that have been left out of previous energy booms.

Funding comes through Reactivate's Renewable Energy Equity Foundation, showing how private sector investment can support community-level change. As the clean energy sector continues its rapid expansion, programs like this offer a model for inclusive growth that benefits both industry and underserved populations.

Fifty people are getting more than job training—they're getting a future in an industry built on hope.