Local High School Gets Grant Money for Solar Electric Panel Training

Governor Deval Patrick announced on Thursday "the success of internship programs run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) and Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) and announced $435,000 in awards for the first round of MassCEC’s Learn and Earn program, which will provide funding for programs to prepare high school students for higher learning opportunities and careers in clean energy and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields," according to his office. 

As part of the funding, Greater Lawrence Technical School will train 24 students this summer, and 60 more over the fall and spring, in the installation of solar electric panels for both commercial and residential uses. The students will train on ground-level, full-sized practice roofs and students will install a fully-functional solar electric system at the school as a final project, according to Gov. Patrick's office. 

“Training young people for careers in STEM will put them on the path for future success,” said Patrick. “Internship programs are working to ensure that innovative Massachusetts companies have a rich pipeline of talented workers to help their businesses flourish here in the Commonwealth.”

The internship program has placed more than 2,300 interns at companies across Massachusetts over the past five years. Each grant recipient will receive $145,000 in funding.  

“Massachusetts is a hub of innovation and having a strong talent pipeline is vital to the continued growth of our innovation economy,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. “These internships help our companies recruit and retain top talent in our Commonwealth.”  

“Employers need access to highly-trained workers as they look to expand their businesses here in the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett, who also chairs the MassCEC Board of Directors. “These grants will ensure that the next generation of clean energy workers is exposed at an early age to the benefits of careers in the growing clean energy industry.” 

“The MassTech Intern Partnership, with the support from the Commonwealth, introduces students to new learning opportunities, as well as to the contacts, job prospects, and career opportunities that the Massachusetts innovation economy offers,” said Pamela Goldberg, CEO of MassTech. “The program is a win for startups too, as they benefit from the addition of talented interns who help the company to expand operations, providing a measurable boost in productivity at these small companies.”  

“The MassCEC internship program grows bigger every year and is an invaluable resource to the clean energy industry, which has grown by 24 percent over the past two years,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “Employers gain access to a skilled, energetic workforce, while students and recent graduates have the opportunity to take the skills they learned in the classroom and use them in the expanding global clean energy sector.”