Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)

IREC is connecting the dots in clean energy workforce development to ensure that anyone interested in applying their talents can find a family-sustaining career in clean energy. Our work takes many forms, from connecting veterans and employers through the Solar Ready Vets program to providing hands-on technical assistance to connect employers with Registered Apprenticeship programs that allow people can earn while they learn. From accrediting leading training providers in the industry, to helping individuals learn about the diversity of clean energy careers and how to get them. If you value IREC’s work to build an inclusive and highly-trained clean energy workforce, we hope you’ll consider supporting us with a donation before the end of the year. All gifts between now and the end of 2024 will be matched thanks to generous contributions from our Board and an anonymous donor: https://ow.ly/qRqs50UpYIp!

This September, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) released a decision aimed at accelerating the pace of energization in the state. Energization—the process of connecting electrification projects to the grid—is vital to our clean energy future. Given the pressing need for energization, IREC has been an active participant in this CPUC decision. We applaud the CPUC’s swift action to establish energization timelines and highlight the importance of connecting more clean energy to the grid faster; however, we believe that meeting the state’s ambitious transportation electrification goals can only be achieved with timelines that are feasible and more aggressive. Our new blog post describes IREC’s vision for a collaborative working group to revise this decision so that it sets specific and meaningful energization timelines and, more importantly, aligns those timelines with clear standards and procedures for utilities and customers to follow: https://ow.ly/s9MA50Uv5u4.

Tune in to a new episode of The Energy Optimist podcast, where we explore a topic that is a central focus of much of IREC’s regulatory work: interconnection! Interconnection policies can be thought of as the “rules of the road” for the electric grid. They govern how systems that produce electricity are permitted to connect to the grid. These policies are a critical factor in how efficiently and affordably clean energy can be developed, though they remain relatively behind the scenes in terms of public awareness of them. We dig into what happens in the interconnection process, some of the common pitfalls, and what defines effective interconnection policies. Tune in now at https://ow.ly/F3Qp50Uv1HF!

Happy New Year from all of us at IREC! ✨🎉 Thank you for all of your support this year as we work to help build a clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. We're excited for what's ahead in 2025!

Thanks to generous contributions from our Board and an anonymous donor, all gifts to IREC between now and the end of the year will be matched. But time is running out! ⏳ Do you value IREC's work to build a clean energy future? Donations from individuals to IREC make a big impact to our organization. Although we are grant-funded, those funds are highly restricted in how they can be used. Individual donations give us much-needed flexibility to operate nimbly and respond to emerging needs. Contributions from supporters like you are truly essential in enabling our work! Donate now & double your impact: https://lnkd.in/eTEVivjF!

"The year has ended, but the energy transition keeps chugging along. In 2024, clean energy deployments reached new heights in the U.S., with Texas and California proving that huge amounts of solar and batteries can drastically reduce grid problems in the face of extreme weather and soaring electricity demand." Check out Canary Media Inc.'s six charts that capture how clean energy transformed the U.S. grid this year below!

IREC is hiring for a Director of Codes & Standards! This position will lead programs focused on renewable energy codes & standards and support jurisdictions in developing and implementing large-scale solar siting best practices. The position will sit within IREC’s Local Initiatives department, which supports local governments in reducing barriers to clean energy adoption and develops best practices that accelerate the equitable deployment of clean energy. Learn more and apply by 1/3 at https://ow.ly/YoWg50UnJTC!

Join IREC, Building Performance Institute, Inc., and Building Performance Association as we explore critical opportunities for contractors in energy efficiency and home energy performance on 1/22! This webinar will highlight pathways available for contractors to grow their businesses in this evolving sector, focusing on the tools and resources designed to help them succeed. It is a must-attend for contractors, business leaders, and people working in energy efficiency looking to strengthen their role and grow their businesses in the clean energy economy. Learn more & register now: https://ow.ly/Lssx50UlaWA!

Thanks to generous contributions from our Board and an anonymous donor, all gifts to IREC between now and the end of the year will be matched. But time is running out! ⏳ Do you value IREC's work to build a clean energy future? Donations from individuals to IREC make a big impact to our organization. Although we are grant-funded, those funds are highly restricted in how they can be used. Individual donations give us much-needed flexibility to operate nimbly and respond to emerging needs. Contributions from supporters like you are truly essential in enabling our work! Donate now & double your impact: https://lnkd.in/eTEVivjF!

✨ Happy Holidays✨ from all of us at IREC!