CIC Energy is a catalyst for community solar expansion—an agent of impactful change in marginalized communities. Community solar relieves the financial burden placed on low- and medium-income households, provides local grid resilience, and stimulates economic activity in economically and racially underserved communities.

CIC Energy, in collaboration with its partner organizations and sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE), is leading the charge to advance adoption of solar PV and storage , training a critical infrastructure workforce to meet the supply gaps in human resources (trades skills), and meeting the explosive demand for new energy within communities in need of energy justice.

Community Power Accelerator Hubs: A Framework for “Resilience Hub and Critical Infrastructure Training Center” Build on Experience and Collective Enhancement Across the Nation, the Globe.

CIC Energy was an inaugural member as both a registered developer and financial sponsor of the National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP), an initiative led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.  At the end of 2021, through 2022 and currently Team Impact’s energy and environmentally focused coalition continues to expand.  On May 5^th, CIC Energy was announced the American Made Prize Phase I award, and notably the lone winner in Texas.

Community Leader and Environmental Advocate Hilton Kelley notes, ” The time for Port Arthur, TX and rural disadvantage communities the like are open to receive all available benefits to the community through our Power Accelerators, with the Alpha site soon to be a showcase to give hands on demonstrations within the heart of the community.” Through DOE, SEIN, SETO and HARC, our energy coalition has cerainly gained momentum as noted the 13th of June with a visit from the Secretary of Energy, https://twitter.com/SecGranholm

A Texas Size Challenge for Community Solar

Texas is not exactly fertile ground for planning a community solar opportunity.  Granted, Texas is a renewable energy leader in wind and has been since T Boone Pickens and Skelly days.  Aside from wind, the Lone Star State ranked #2 national in 2022[i] powered, powers almost 2M homes, however, the state only generates less than 5% from solar PV in the TX grid.  This is a TEXAS SIZE OPPORTUNITY! The state further boasts 617 companies with 99 manufacturers, 243 installers/developers, and almost 300 outliers performing various energy efficient and related services.

As of 2022, Texas claimed $20B in solar investments, meanwhile the price has fallen 53% over the past decade.  Hold on folks, modest projections place Texas as #1 in solar power generation and forecast an increase to 34GW over next five years.  Solar PV is a Texas Size Opportunity indeed, but will the Texas legislature address the opportunity or continue to subsidize dinosaurs?

Today is the day to realize the national goal of 30% solar PV generation in the United States by 2030.  While this will never happen, let’s enable communities that need it most to capitalize and save given they bear the biggest burden, and in Port Arthur, their health continues to suffer.

Team Impact Continues to Exceed Milestones Towards Equitable Energy

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that all 10 teams participating in the inaugural American-Made Community Clean Energy Coalition (CCEC) Prize successfully completing Phase Two and will each be awarded $150,000 in cash prizes. Team Impact pioneer member Garry’s team ReBuildATL Coalition headquartered in Atlanta, GA, but with community solar projects in Virginia and other Eastern States we applaud the Team’s continued success across the nation – especially as we collaborate and coordinate to bring the best practices to Texas

In service of this initiative, the DOE is sponsoring the upcoming Energy Justice to the People Roadshow that will make a stop in Port Arthur on June 13, 2023. Register TODAY and be a part of the  solution, be a Change Agent! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/energy-justice-to-the-people-roadshow-port-arthur-tx-tickets-634947213207

This day-long event will kick-off with a speech by the United States Secretary of Energy. The first half of the day will focus on a series of DOE-led presentations on topics including Energy Justice, BIL & IRA funding, clean energy workforce development, community voice in infrastructure projects, and available home and neighborhood investments.

The second half of the day will bring together experts and leaders from across the Federal Government and local community—including the White House, elected officials, community leaders, and the DOE.

Team Impact is a Coalition of Energy Advocates Aligned by a Shared Mission, Dedicated to Advancing the US Energy Transition

CIC Energy, along with the Houston Advanced Resource Center (HARC), Community In-Power and Development Association, Inc. (CIDA), Mills Agriculture & Renewable Energy, LLC (MARE), and the Center for Sustainable Communities (CSC), make up Team Impact. Our Impact aims to modernize community grids and increase solar workforce capacity within historically underserved communities by developing a community solar portfolio in Port Arthur, TX.

Port Arthur, TX

Port Arthur, is a an ideal showcase, with 25% of Port Arthur’s  residents below the poverty line. The community is primarily African American, followed by Hispanic communities with unemployment rate historically 2x below the state average. As a refinery mecca, Port Arthur is plagued by environmental pollution that has largely been ignored by authorities and corporations that caused it Team Impact focuses on Port Arthur’s communities in the most need and the most affected by socioeconomic, as well as racial disparities and environmental contamination.  The time is now to counter this history of environmental, climate, and racial injustice and deliver residents new economic opportunities. Join us on June 13, 2023 and let our collective voices resonate loudly! Onward and Upward!!!

From ISD CTE Training to Community Led Solar Camps in West Port Arthur, TX – Education of Direct Benefits is Key

From Texas two-step to homegrown Innovation in Austin, TX, we are prepared to stabilize the TX Grid.  At the lead of this energy transition are companies like Yotta Energy.  Their product suite is sweet and rich with service-centric solutions and a range of distributed energy technologies to convert buildings into their own solar power plants.

Yotta Energy specializes in the commercial, industrial, and multifamily spaces; bringing the most affordable, advanced, and safest solar + storage + EV charging solutions to the market

[i] SEIA – https://www.seia.org/states-map

IREC Solar Career Map https://www.irecsolarcareermap.org

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Climate Impact Capital spun out Climate Impact Capital Energy Holdings, LLC (CIC Energy) in 2021 to address significant gaps in U.S. energy workforce and critical infrastructure development. CIC Energy serves two segments by addressing the I. demand for energy (e.g. cost-effective electricity, equitable energy, demand response programs, backup power) and lack of supply of human resources with technical and trade skills.

CIC Energy will deploy Phase 1 winnings and fuel Team Impact with funding and technical support provided by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Community Power Accelerator (CPA) Prize. With almost 200 teams, judges at SETO and NREL were challenged to pick the Top 25 amongst a critical mass of competitors. The $10 million prize competition is a three-phase process to increase the number of equitable community solar projects by providing funding and resources for developers and co-developers throughout the project lifecycle. By the end of the prize, competitors will be ready to engage with the Community Power Accelerator online platform, which provides a place for competitors to showcase their credit-ready projects to verified project developers, investors, and philanthropic organizations.

CIC Energy is excited to cultivate community solar designed to support equitable energy jobs and accelerate critical infrastructure workforce development. Through CPA’s online portal and CIC Energy’s Learning and Earning in Energy Platform (LEEP), prosumers are enabled with democratized, decentralized and digital disruptors to monetize savings, enhance human behavior and offer credit-ready solar to stabilize power grids and add resilience to communities—with a priority placed on projects that benefit underserved communities—and connect them with mission-aligned investors and philanthropic organizations to get funding in Port Arthur, Central and East TX in 2023.

Community Solar Benefits

In Phase 2, CIC Energy will further develop community grids, equitable and distributed energy models, and deploy a series of up to 1MW DC projects within communities, offering a range of meaningful impacts in Port Arthur, Northwest Houston, Central and East Texas. Community solar offers direct benefits to the community by reducing energy costs, expanding renewable energy consumption, and providing solar industry workforce development opportunities. Project Renew has prioritized disadvantaged communities since launching its first Solar Apprenticeship Program at Del Valle Opportunity Center in Fall 2021. Team Impact will catalyze change in households, creating home energy systems for community solar subscribers, bolstering community grid resilience, facilitating community ownership of project assets, and supporting equitable workforce development by providing high-wage opportunities that reduce income disparities across demographic groups.

Team Impact

CIC Energy, along with the Houston Advanced Resource Center (HARC), Community In-Power and Development Association, Inc. (CIDA), Mills Agriculture & Renewable Energy, LLC (MARE), and the Center for Sustainable Communities (CSC), make up Team Impact. Our Impact aims to modernize community grids and increase solar workforce capacity within historically underserved communities by developing a community solar portfolio in Port Arthur, Texas.

Community Solar Builds Alliances, Creates Greener and More Resilient Grids in Port Arthur

Team Impact’s community solar projects in Port Arthur will target schools, churches, and small businesses within disadvantaged residential communities, delivering power grid resilience during energy emergencies and showcasing the cost benefits of distributed energy systems. The end goal is the expansion of community solar benefits to household subscribers. Local community members will have ownership of these projects, democratizing energy production in the city.

Increasing Energy Security and Mission Critical Communications

Community solar electricity rates will be lower than rates available via existing power distribution grids, which reduces the financial burden of electricity usage and increases energy security by improving grid resilience. Residents previously forced to ration energy usage due to economic hardship (e.g. by not using their air conditioners or setting thermostats to dangerously high temperatures) will be able to reduce energy rationing with more affordable electricity rates provided by community solar projects. Such benefits will improve the quality of life for residents of disadvantaged communities in Port Arthur.

Gearing up for Phase 2

Winning Phase 1 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize is an exciting opportunity for CIC Energy to bring alternative energy to Texas residents facing high energy burdens and frequent power outages. In decreasing energy costs and enhancing grid resilience in the community, CIC Energy will deliver energy equity and create more lucrative employment opportunities for this underserved community. As we begin Phase 2 of the prize, we look forward to realizing our plan and are committed to providing clean energy access to the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Port Arthur, Texas.

Accelerating Equitable Energy Through Federal Funding and Team Impact

The American-Made Solar Prize is directed and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. CIC Energy applauds the efforts of our government to prioritize energy equality.

CIC Energy: An Impact Driven Change Agent to fuel Renewable Microgrid Deployment, Disruptive Grid Service Models and Activate a Critical Infrastructure Workforce

Climate Impact Capital Energy Holdings, LLC (CIC Energy) develops and manages alternative energy and power generation for commercial, municipal, and government solar power and energy storage facilities.

As an integrated service provider, we identify the most effective set of asset solutions for our clients considering cost and resiliency goals.  In addition to deploying solar and storage, our services and solutions include electric vehicle charging, building energy management services, and grid services.

CIC Energy also manages the development and implementation of an integrated training, certification, and continued education platform to provide Registered Apprentices for our government/corporate partners and enable our planned integrated solar, storage, EV, and microgrid projects.  Stay tuned for details regarding our Learning and Earning in Energy Platform (LEEP).

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Do you believe today’s high school graduates are prepared to secure America’s energy future?

A continued lack of vision for an integrated energy network has left us with a sizable gap, most notably in human resources.  America’s power grid needs an overhaul and renewables offer a sustainable solution to lower energy costs, improve resiliency through decentralization, and create equitable energy distribution. However, the US has been slow to implement the changes needed. To achieve this we will need a skilled and diverse workforce in every US county that will both build and maintain assets.

A Solution So Simple, Yet Challenging

Europe provides a fine example for retraining established trades or catering to fresh recruits. The region has taken an integrated approach to apprentice programs in renewables and EVs, building pathways for applied learning towards a university degree.  Innovative utilities and power electronics companies, with support from the government, are driving both education and deployment, with natural pathways to employment. There is a clear understanding that workforce development and sustainable corporate growth go hand in hand.

In contrast, in the USA, blue collar jobs in coal and O&G, have typically been sourced from unskilled labor forces which are taught in the field and in the mine after being hired.  Coincidentally, these skills were not transferable to other jobs and sectors. This was sustainable when these industries were growing and before the new generation of workers realized there are better and more importantly greener career paths. In 2022 these sectors continue to see reductions in their workforce as automation and digitalization are rapidly deployed to reduce costs.

Since solar has become cheaper than natural gas and coal, trade skills demand has outpaced workforce availability.  With multiple career pathways in a disruptive and emerging industry, the US has an opportunity to quickly incorporate lessons to build our own skilled workforce.

Schools STEM Change

Solar education is pivotal for the US energy transition and students are eager to learn. Over the past 30 years, school districts around the country have largely phased out vocational classes in lieu of STEM only courses. More emphasis is placed on students achieving four year college degrees, while blue collar careers are not properly encouraged at the middle or high school levels. These types of jobs are needed and offer students alternative careers without student debt. The call for more vocational, alternative learning methods, is steadily growing, spurring educators to consider new options for their students to achieve career readiness in emerging industries with large growth opportunities.

Solar Pioneers of Del Valle

A case for success and scale is certainly the Solar Pioneers of Del Valle. The community-based program was led by Solar Austin quickly gained traction when Del Valle ISD partnered with community leaders, solar experts, teachers, and students to design a learning lab at their Opportunity Center.

Workforce development is not a regional issue when it comes to new energy careers. However, schools need curriculum, subject matter experts to “train the trainers,” and then liaisons between students and employers. A challenge multiplier is the fact that the Department of Labor has yet to designate an apprentice program for solar.

Del Valle illustrates an opportunity to learn by doing. Local leaders from NATiVE Solar and Solar Austin joined with community volunteers to drive success, until state or federal funding for solar jobs can formalize efforts. To scale beyond regional initiatives, state/federal funding for equipment, teacher salaries, scholarships, and administrators is urgently needed.

Ways to Engage and Educate

Schools are a gateway, but what about those that aren’t enrolled in public schools?

The Children’s Haven new solar array was installed by volunteers in the heart of East Austin and offered a one-day solar camp to educate the community. Green Careers Dallas takes on an additional challenge by offering support for the unique hurdles of criminal records while removing the cost burdens of training, certifications, and transportation.

Community engagement through town hall meetings, advocacy groups, trade organizations and solar installers offer support and access to reliable information. The recent shift towards remote and virtual workforces has created an opportunity to transition and potentially a breakthrough in delivery of dynamic content and curriculum, with all the elements of hands-on and classroom learning.

A Virtual Solution

The mission to integrate new curriculum, experimental education facility and innovative learning platform has an elegant solution. Augmented and Virtual (AR/VR) Reality are ways to engage the next generation of trainees and modernize tech training. The US Air Force illustrates a great use case for recruiting and training with a VR system coordinated by artificial intelligence. Austin also offers a few early adopters with Interplay Learning and Froliq.

Furthermore, remote access to energy assets is easily interfaced with a smartphone that instantly augments the user experience with troubleshooting tools as demonstrated by 60 Hertz Energy. Adoption of digital platforms in schools, construction and utilities will need to be abrupt, but offer immediate payback with increased energy efficiency.

Notwithstanding hands on learning labs, students can supplement learning and gain practical skills with virtual learning. Many volunteers who want to participate in the program may struggle to travel through Texas to teach the different classes across school districts. Lectures recorded by experts on emerging topics are important for students and need timely delivery methods.  Additionally, the students could use custom VR “games” to practice their skills before touching live circuits. This could save time in the classroom, promote safety, and allow students more opportunities to practice.

Leveraging AR/VR would allow for collaboration and development of streamlined sharing between stakeholders. The curriculum and technology can be devised by a group of experts and then implemented with less work from local schools. Since it would be theoretically easier to implement the program, more schools may consider providing it for their students.

The mission and goal is to accelerate solar education to place students in well-paying jobs, help them avoid the financial burdens of student loans, and create more quality jobs for energy security and resilience.

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