PEORIA, Ill. – Illinois Central College President Doctor Sheila Quirk-Bailey is having solar energy panels installed on the roof of her house this week. And those doing the work of installing those panels learned everything they need to do the job at the school she runs.
For the past six years, ICC has run the Solar Pipeline Training program. It trains students in the program to be able to install and maintain solar panels in two months, at no or very little cost to them, as part of the college’s Earn and Learn apprenticeship program. Students are also provided a stipend for living expenses while they learn and work in the program.
Quirk-Bailey says the college wanted to start the program when they saw a growing need for solar energy in the area, but not enough workers to fill the demand
“One of the biggest reasons the industry wasn’t expanding here like they are in other states was the workforce,” Quirk-Bailey said. “You can’t come and sell it if you can’t install it. So we got pretty serious about building some programs that built that workforce, because it works for the individuals and it works for the companies.
ICC says the program has had a 89% completion rate, with 95% of those graduates of the program gaining employment.
Quirk-Bailey says while anyone can sign up for the program, the college is putting an extra emphasis on those in poverty or recently incarcerated individuals to help them earn a family-sustaining wage quicker.
Mike Murphy is Vice President of Community Development for Sun Collectors, which has worked with ICC’s program for the past few years.
Murphy echoed that growing need for installers to keep up with demand. He says the program helps companies like his out, because they know what they’re getting when they hire a graduate from the Solar Pipeline Training program.
“That takes a lot of the guesswork out of us when we take on and hire somebody new. We already know that this person is trained, they’re certified, they’re ready to work day one,” Murphy said. “And that’s invaluable to us, because then we don’t have to look for people to hire, and then send out to go get the certification later.”
Murphy says in the past, there was a lot of job shadowing and taking the extra time to train people to do the job.
ICC says those who are trained in the program get hired and make up to $100,000 annually in the Greater Peoria region, depending on job title and experience.
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