Movement for Solar Capacity and Leadership

The Movement for Solar Capacity and Leadership (“MSCL”) program is a great opportunity for free training in one of society’s most important and rapidly growing fields - solar development. Additionally, the program enables meaningful engagement with other highly-motivated solar learners to cross-pollinate ideas and strategies, and it is a vehicle to connect with national partners.

APPLY!

Program Summary

I. The program offers a small intimate learning community/cohort – with an upfront in-person retreat, weekly evening online seminars, and additional opportunities to learn and connect. II. More specifically, the MSCL program involves:

  • Education and training regarding solar energy, and particularly “community solar” focused on serving LMI (low and moderate income) communities;
  • Learning about the new federal climate programs offering millions of dollars to LMI and communities of color;
  • Building community with a select group of other trainees;
  • An “each-one teach-one” approach with participants having the opportunity to give back by relaying their education and training to their community-based organization;
  • Connecting with national partners engaged in promoting climate, racial and economic justice.

III. Who should apply:

  • People who can demonstrate some connection to a community-based organization that has some interest in developing solar projects;
  • People seeking deeper training in solar development;
  • People who, ideally, already possess some basic knowledge of energy policy and solar energy (and indeed, a brief online self-study intro course is available for those who wish to gain this familiarity or simply brush up prior to entering the MSCL course).

IV. What’s expected of MSCL participants:

  • A strong interest in learning about community solar and its potential community benefits (jobs, discounted energy bills, clean air, eventual ownership and economic development);
  • Active participation in the weekly seminars and other possible cohort activities (which may include online chat spaces, meetings, and/or buddy pairings, depending on participant preferences);
  • Engagement for the full period.

V. What participants will gain from the key components of the MSCL program:

  • Technical assistance with organizing and developing community solar projects;
  • A learning community made up of peers with similar interests/experience in solar development;
  • Connections with national and regional experts.

VI. To Apply:

  • Now accepting applications on a rolling basis. Even if you don’t meet every single qualification, we encourage you to apply (see above link)!
  • For questions, contact Jessica Iniguez, Jiniguez@psef.network.