Building the future: how Texas solar projects drive clean energy workforce development, job growth

Completing a safe, operationally efficient solar facility is no small task. It requires extensive site development as well as installation of specialized equipment at a large, rapid scale.

And that’s just the beginning.

Success depends on widespread logistics management, precise execution and establishment of repeatable processes — and, importantly, the development of a well-trained, specialized workforce.

Developing, empowering a skilled solar workforce through training, career pathways in Texas

Black & Veatch — a leading global engineering, procurement and construction company — recently designed and built yet another new solar facility in Texas, this time a complex project on repurposed land. Several similar solar facilities are in various execution stages.

With extensive in-house best practices in developing, operating and maintaining sustainable solar facilities across the United States, Black & Veatch is uniquely equipped to manage the creation of critical infrastructure. With its leadership in the solar sector, the company is equally adept at developing a skilled workforce in renewable energy — a significant need to offset labor constraints in a record infrastructure build cycle.

To develop an integrated, forward-looking solution to its demanding staffing requirements, Black & Veatch deployed a tailored apprenticeship program. Since first launching that in 2023, Black & Veatch has invested in this unique form of professional development, incorporating training in fundamentals as well as specialized, role-specific knowledge.

Clients — both traditional and non-traditional — are embracing Black & Veatch’s support to further benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other tax credits awarded for using apprenticeship programs. Black & Veatch guides them through the process of securing federal funding, and clients are enjoying safe projects delivered competently.

Apprentices also complete Black & Veatch leadership courses, emphasizing that anyone — not only designated managers — can lead and contribute to every project’s success. The apprenticeship program is creating a skilled, motivated and specialized solar workforce tailored to the specific needs of each client and project. The result: fewer safety concerns and quality control issues, “all of which lead to earlier schedules and a better finished product,” according to Austin Hake, Black & Veatch site operations training manager.

This apprenticeship program’s collaborative nature also contributes to a culture of accountability with teamwork, creating more opportunities for regular craft to interact with staff. Electrical apprentice Jay Qualls notes the diverse backgrounds of apprentices, saying that Black & Veatch’s program — in addition to refining his skillset within his technical field — also has helped turn him into “more of a people person.”

Comprehensive solar training programs for long-term career success

Black & Veatch’s apprenticeship program is more than an investment in personnel for a single project; it builds a growing pool of highly trained workers who remain onsite for facility maintenance and can redeploy their skills to future projects in new locations. Tiffany McMillan, Black & Veatch construction staff and craft training manager, said our apprenticeship program pushes against the backdrop of “a shortage of electricians in the workforce across the industry.”

As a means of attracting and retaining talent, the apprenticeship program successfully addresses Texas projects’ immediate staffing needs while allowing clients to establish strong relationships that will help address more general workforce availability challenges long-term. Statistics show that those who complete an apprenticeship program are more likely to become a supervisor, and sponsoring organizations inevitably end up retaining apprentices. By deploying this professional program as part of Black & Veatch, McMillan says, we are “creating future supervisors,” effectively investing in solutions to today’s workforce problems while also addressing tomorrow’s workforce challenges in parallel.”

Investing in Texas' next generation of solar workforce leaders and innovators

To ensure highest training quality, Black & Veatch’s apprenticeship program curriculum follows U.S. Department of Labor standards, incorporating material widely recognized in the industry. Additionally, this program is made available in different formats — a time-based structure, a program based on competencies, or a hybrid of both — to better recognize individuals’ strengths as well as their needs. To meet workers at their current level, this program also recognizes the extent of their prior experiences by allowing those proficient in particular skills to enter with credits, which has helped clients attract talented, high-potential workers to projects.

Proving successful in significant solar development across Texas, Black & Veatch’s comprehensive apprenticeship program — backed by the company’s expertise — demonstrates the power of workforce development or preparedness. It meets clients’ operating needs while helping workers build lasting careers across our industry.

Interested in learning more about apprenticeships at Black & Veatch? Explore craft and construction careers here.