Interstate Renewable Energy Council

What Interstate Renewable Energy Council does

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 and headquartered in Albany, New York, that operates a national clean energy and energy efficiency agenda across three integrated pathways: Regulatory Engagement (interconnection policy, grid modernization, smart inverters, energy storage, hosting capacity analysis), Local Clean Energy Solutions (SolSmart and Charging Smart designation programs, permitting and codes/standards assistance), and Workforce Development (apprenticeships, training accreditation, credentialing, and career pathways). Its core products include the Freeing the Grid interconnection scorecard (co-developed with Vote Solar), the Model Interconnection Procedures 2023 (cited by nearly half of all U.S. states), the annual Solar Jobs Census, the Green Workforce Connect platform, the Apprenticeships in Clean Energy (ACE) Network, and a suite of technical toolkits (BATRIES for storage, Large-Scale Solar, DTT Assessment, Remote Virtual Inspections Framework). The organization has shaped energy regulations in 41+ states and territories, helped 500+ communities through SolSmart/Charging Smart, and accredited 200+ clean energy training programs and 100+ instructors. IREC's business model is grant- and donation-funded: it receives primary support from U.S. Department of Energy grants, foundation grants (Invest in Our Future, Klingenstein), corporate sponsorships (tiered from $500 Friend to negotiable Champion), individual donations via Donor Advised Funds, and limited training and credentialing fees — a 501(c)(3) revenue mix that precludes equity investment but anchors IREC's credibility as a non-commercial technical advisor. Following the 2021 merger with The Solar Foundation, IREC more than doubled its headcount and budget, expanded to 11-50 employees working remotely nationwide, and operates with additional specialization in Puerto Rico energy resilience (microgrids, workforce, finance), utility EV energization, and energy justice policy through partnerships with NREL, EPRI, DOE national labs, ICMA, SEIA, and Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP.

Name

Interstate Renewable Energy Council

Legal name

Interstate Renewable Energy Council

Website

https://irecusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IREC is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that builds the foundation for U.S. clean energy adoption through regulatory engagement, local-government technical assistance (SolSmart, Charging Smart), and workforce credentialing, serving 41+ states, 500+ communities, and 200+ accredited training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Policy Advocacy and Workforce Development

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Transmission Interconnection & Line Works (Gen-Tie Lines, Overhead/Underground Lines) (EUAMAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Balance-of-Plant EPC (Piles/Foundations, Trenching, Combiner Networks) (EUAEADAJ), Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

Keywords

• Clean energy policy
• Interconnection standards
• Workforce development
• Solar permitting assistance
• Regulatory engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: IREC receives significant funding from government agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy (Solar Energy Technologies Office), and foundations for specific programs and initiatives.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: IREC accepts donations from individuals and corporations, offering multiple giving platforms including PayPal, ActBlue, and Donor Advised Funds. Earned Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar and four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsorships for the National Solar Jobs Census and IREC programs at multiple levels: Champion (negotiable), Change Agent ($10,000), Advocate ($5,000), Ally ($2,500), and Friend ($500).
4. Training and Credentialing Fees: As one of the leading accrediting bodies for clean energy training, IREC has accredited over 200 clean energy training programs. The Clean Energy Clearinghouse offers free and CEU-bearing courses. Apprenticeship Ready course is currently offered free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IREC is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency through three interrelated pathways: regulatory engagement (interconnection policy, grid modernization, smart inverters, energy storage), local clean energy solutions (SolSmart and Charging Smart designations, permitting assistance, technical support to cities/counties), and workforce development (clean energy training accreditation, registered apprenticeships, credentialing, and veteran career pathways such as the Solar Ready Vets Network).

Product overview

IREC is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency. IREC operates through three complementary pathways: Regulatory Engagement (transforming the grid through interconnection policy, grid modernization, smart inverters, energy storage, and hosting capacity analysis), Local Clean Energy Solutions (empowering local governments through SolSmart, Charging Smart, permitting solutions, and codes/standards), and Workforce Development (building the clean energy workforce through apprenticeships, training, credentials, and career pathways). The organization's core products include the Freeing the Grid interconnection grades, Model Interconnection Procedures, Solar Jobs Census, and Green Workforce Connect platform. Training offerings include Clean Energy Training & Credentials with over 200 accredited programs and Apprenticeship Ready courses. IREC provides extensive toolkits including BATRIES for storage interconnection, Large-Scale Solar and Battery Storage Toolkit, and resources on EV charger energization. Programs like SolSmart (helped over 500 communities) and Charging Smart address local government needs, while specialized initiatives like Solar Ready Vets Network and ACE Network advance workforce development. The organization has shaped energy regulations in more than 41 states and U.S. territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solar Ready Vets Network: Program advancing solar career pathways for service members and veterans, operated 2019-2025
• Freeing the Grid
• SolSmart
• Charging Smart
• Green Workforce Connect
• Solar Jobs Census
• Apprenticeships in Clean Energy Network
• The Solar Foundation

Products and services

• Freeing the Grid

Quantifiable outcome

• States with improved interconnection grades: Oregon and New Jersey went from D to B; Maine earned a B (up from C); Wisconsin increased from D to C; California, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Vermont made policy improvements
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Building Performance Association (BPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Through the Apprenticeships in Clean Energy Network led by IREC, BPA received DOL approval for National Guideline Standards enabling BPA to sponsor energy efficiency apprenticeship programs nationwide for Energy Specialist and Home Performance Laborer occupations.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the SolSmart program with IREC, providing local governments nationwide with no-cost technical assistance to streamline solar permitting, inspection, and zoning policies.
• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey industry partner for Solar Ready Vets Network and co-developed National Guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship Standards in the solar industry.
• Hiring Our HeroescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with IREC on Solar Ready Vets Fellowships, implementing the fellowship program that placed transitioning service members with solar employers for on-the-job training.
• Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SEIA and IREC to develop National Guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship Standards approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Solar Energy International (SEI)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Solar Ready Vets Network providing training resources and support for veteran career pathways in solar.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner supporting clean energy analysis and technical standards development.
• Great Plains InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for clean energy initiatives and sustainable energy solutions.
• Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la MontañacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with IREC and University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez to develop the Castañer community microgrid, one of Puerto Rico's first examples of microgrid interconnection using multiple facilities.
• IBTS (International Building Technology and Safety)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUses Remote Virtual Inspections to provide quality assurance for residential solar installations in New York seeking subsidies under NY-SUN program. Found 22% of installations have deficiencies that onsite inspections missed.
• Vote SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the Freeing the Grid report, a scorecard evaluating state distributed energy resource interconnection policies.
• NABCEPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners partnership for solar industry certification and standards.
• Slipstream Group, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in RACER program for Puerto Rico, designing and implementing solar PV and microgrid technology to enhance energy resilience.
• Pathstone CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Generac-funded DOE award to install solar and storage on low-income households in Puerto Rico.
• University of Puerto Rico - MayagüezcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Energy Resilience Hubs initiative and Castañer microgrid project for Puerto Rico communities.
• Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm representing IREC in grid modernization, interconnection, and energy storage proceedings nationwide, with partners Sky Stanfield, Yochi Zakai, and Laura Beaton serving as IREC's legal counsel.
• NYSERDAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with IREC and IBTS to offer continuing education courses for expert electricians and professional engineers in New York.
• International Code Council (ICC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStandards organization partnered with IREC on clean energy codes and standards development, including recommended changes to ICC codes.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE national laboratory partner for clean energy research and technical analysis.
• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on distributed energy resource interconnection best practices and smart inverter field deployment.
• FSEC Energy Research Center (UCF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Central Florida research center partner for clean energy training and standards.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vote Solar: National 501(c)(3) advocacy nonprofit focused on state-level solar policy and equitable clean energy access. Co-developed IREC's Freeing the Grid report, operates in the same state regulatory dockets, and shares target audiences (state utility commissions, clean energy advocates).
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Nonprofit coalition of state clean energy funds and programs that convenes state energy officials and provides technical assistance on clean energy financing and policy. Highly comparable to IREC's state-level regulatory engagement and grant-funded technical assistance model.
• National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO): Nonprofit association representing state energy offices. Operates in the same state-level clean energy policy and federal grant administration space as IREC, often partnering on workforce development and DER deployment programs.
• NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC): University-based clean energy center providing policy analysis, training, and technical assistance on solar, storage, and EVs. Direct peer in workforce training (multiple IREC staff came from NCCETC) and in clean energy policy research/database services like DSIRE.
• American Solar Energy Society (ASES): 501(c)(3) nonprofit promoting solar energy adoption through education, research, and advocacy. President Emeritus Larry Sherwood was previously Executive Director. Highly comparable organizational model and mission alignment.

Broad incumbents

• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): National trade association representing the U.S. solar industry. IREC's 'Solar Jobs Census' is co-developed with SEIA. A broader incumbent that covers the same DER regulatory and workforce space but as a member-driven industry trade body rather than a technical assistance nonprofit.
• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Independent nonprofit working on clean energy transition research, policy, and market acceleration. Operates at a larger scale in climate policy, electricity system transformation, and equity, with overlap in DER/grid modernization analysis and state regulatory engagement.
• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): Independent, nonprofit energy research and development organization serving the electric utility sector. IREC research partner on DER interconnection best practices and smart inverter field deployment. A larger, utility-funded incumbent in the same grid modernization research space.

Emerging players

• Building Performance Association (BPA): Nonprofit trade association for building energy performance contractors. IREC's ACE Network partner sponsoring clean energy apprenticeship programs (announced 2026-01-21). Operates in adjacent workforce development and energy efficiency space.
• Great Plains Institute: Nonprofit that designs energy system transformation strategies and works with utilities, states, and communities. IREC partner on the SolSmart program and broader clean energy initiatives; comparable in scale and mission focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IRECUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irecusa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Interstate Renewable Energy Council