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Solar Experts

It’s been an exciting few weeks here at Iron & Earth. Following our Shop Talk Night in Taber (engaging with the community about a new project called RenuWell), we went to Calgary to attend Solar Canada (Canada’s largest annual solar energy conference).

 

We were invigorated by the support for our organization and we made connections with dozens of stakeholders who hope to partner with us. We also learned a lot! One fact we took away, was that solar capacity in Alberta is expected to increase from 15MW to 130MW by the end of 2021.

It’s go time and we are ramping up for the solar boom.

We are thrilled to announce that Iron & Earth is developing two solar energy training programs this year, both customized for upskilling fossil fuel industry and Indigenous workers into the solar industry. The training programs will be entirely mobile, allowing us to bring the training to communities that need it the most. Additionally, our programs will include the installation of working solar PV systems.

The first program we are developing is a 5-Day CSA Solar Skills program which will prepare electricians with the knowledge and hands-on experience required to write the CSA solar PV certificate examination. The other program is a 10-Day Community Solar Skills program accessible to anyone with grade 10 education and above, limited to the non-electrical scope of solar PV projects.

We are now hiring subject matter experts who will assist us in the development of these two programs.

We are looking for a master electrician with extensive experience in the solar industry, as well as engineers, Indigenous leaders, project developers, and experts with other perspectives to help make these programs among the best in the world.  

If you would like to become a subject matter expert for the development of one, or both, of our solar energy training programs, please:

  1. Fill out the application form at this link
  2. Send your resume to [email protected]

The deadline for applications is midnight MT June 2. We will be selecting our first subject matter expert the week of June 3.

A huge thank you to Energy Efficiency Alberta, the Suncor Energy Foundation and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation for supporting the development of these programs.

With momentum,

Lliam Hildebrand

Executive Director - Iron & Earth

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Iron & Earth was founded and operates on Indigenous land within Treaty Six Territory and Métis Region 4 in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (in Nehiyawewin/Cree), so-called Edmonton. The home of many Indigenous Peoples including the Nehiyawak/Cree, Tsuut’ina, Niitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Haudenosaunee/Iroquois, Dene Suliné, Anishinaabe/Ojibway/Saulteaux, and the Inuk/Inuit.

We pay our respects to all Indigenous Peoples of this land. Through their spiritual and practical relationships with the land, a rich heritage for our learning and our life as a community has been created and maintained. We recognize that the transition to a low-carbon future must be led by Indigenous Peoples and that there will be no justice unless we acknowledge and repair our relationship with the land.

We are committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and acknowledge that we are always learning and unlearning practices that minimize harm and lead to the development of trust between us and Indigenous Peoples across Nations and urban centers.