PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Some high-ranking visitors got a look on Friday at Frankford High School's program training students for solar energy jobs.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Bob Casey saw students installing solar panels on a simulated roof inside a classroom. Solar energy technology teacher Jordan Crolly says the three-year program provides practical knowledge.
“We try to get them some experience doing electrical work if they want to become an electrician. We try to get them experience in doing several types of calculations that would be involved in solar energy system designs,” said Crolly.
Frankford is the first high school in the country to launch a clean energy training lab for students. The “Bright Solar Futures” program launched in 2019 to give students a thorough look at the fast growing careers available in the industry.
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The program is partly funded by federal grants. Granholm says it's worth the investment, to train workers for clean energy jobs. Thirty Frankford students are taking part in the program.
“This is very practical. It's very hands-on. It gives students a chance to see themselves in this kind of work. But we don't have enough workers,” said Granholm.
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this story, Jordan Crolly's name was misspelled.