GRID Alternatives Inland Empire’s (GRID IE) Solar Futures program provides both classroom and hands-on solar education to K-14 students, focusing on high school juniors and seniors. Its goal is to provide opportunities to learn more about solar power and illuminate career pathways in the booming solar industry.
The Solar Futures program leverages GRID IE’s hands-on solar installation model to educate and inspire the next generation of solar leaders. The program emphasizes supporting programming for high school students in California’s Inland Empire by combining classroom-based sessions with real-world solar installation experience for GRID IE’s income-qualified clients.
Recently, 11th—and 12th-grade students from John W. North High School in Riverside, CA, visited GRID IE’s Clean Tech Training Center (CTTC) as part of their ongoing Solar Futures program. After training with GRID IE's Solar installation trainers, they learned how to install a solar system on the CTTC's mock roof.
The students are enthusiastic about protecting the environment and are looking for future pathways to work in the clean energy industry—11th Grade student Kate Padua stated, “I enjoy learning all the ways the GRID IE approaches different energy goals and situations.”. In addition, fellow student Zenabu Weaver commented, “We learned about solar installations on a big scale and all the processes involved. We learned about the importance of clean energy to the growth of the Inland Empire and the different improvements needed for the power grid.”
A hands-on approach is vital to the student's success and essential to the Solar Futures program. 12th-grade student Melanie enjoyed her training at the CTTC, remarking, “I enjoyed going to the site [CTTC] and putting solar panels on the fake roof. I learned a lot!” Fellow 12th-grader Ricardo added, “I enjoyed the hands-on work we got to do, and one thing I was excited to learn was how to cut and install wire.”
The students from John W. North are wonderful participants in our Solar Futures program and are extending their learning and experience by entering the 2024 California Envirothon event “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future,” which aligns with the knowledge they have gained from Solar Futures. The Students met with GRID IE’s Executive Director, Jaime Alonso, for guidance and support as they plan their entry into the 2024 competition.
California Envirothon aspires to educate and instill within our youth their individual and collective responsibilities for environmental stewardship and a sense of community, comprehend the role of governance, and empower them to make wise decisions about managing and restoring natural resources into the future. We wish the John W. North High School students the best of luck and success in this endeavor, and we can’t wait to see the great work they will produce for the Envirothon!
More photos of John W. North High School students at the CTTC.