What Midwest Renewable Energy Association does

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 and headquartered at the ReNew the Earth Institute in Custer, Wisconsin. Its mission is to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. MREA's core operating activity is solar and renewable energy workforce training, delivered through an IREC-accredited curriculum spanning six programs (PV Associate, PV Installation, PV Technical Sales, PV Design Specialist, PV Installer Specialist, PV Commissioning and Maintenance), NABCEP-aligned board certifications (PVIP, PVDS, PVIS, PVCMS, PVTS, ESIP), and continuing education for licensed electricians. Course delivery runs on a Moodle-based LMS for online enrollment and in-person hands-on labs at the Custer campus, which includes the Energy Storage Systems Tech Center and solar-powered EV charging stations.

The business model blends earned revenue and philanthropic funding. Earned revenue comes from individual course fees (ranging $105-$205 per course), individual and business memberships, event fees from the annual Energy Fair and the newer Industry Demo Day, and custom group training contracts (including Illinois Solar for All and CEJA programs). Non-earned revenue includes donations, legacy giving, and grants from foundations such as the Couillard Solar Foundation and the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, plus historical funding from the U.S. DOE SunShot Initiative. MREA serves solar industry professionals seeking credentials, Midwest homeowners participating in the Grow Solar group buy program (65 programs across 6 states, 22+ MW installed), Wisconsin K-12 schools via Solar on Schools (5,791 kW installed since 2019), and community partners through the Rise Up Scholarship program and SolarEnergy.Jobs marketplace. Strategic relationships with IREC, SEIA, and the U.S. Department of Labor (which approved National Registered Apprenticeship Guidelines in 2025) position MREA as a policy-aligned workforce intermediary rather than a commercial training vendor.

Name

Midwest Renewable Energy Association

Legal name

Midwest Renewable Energy Association

Website

https://midwestrenew.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MREA is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers IREC-accredited solar training, NABCEP credential prep, and renewable energy workforce programs across the Midwest, serving solar professionals, homeowners, K-12 schools, and community organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Custer

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Course Enrollment: Revenue from individual course registrations for online and in-person solar training programs. Pricing varies by course duration and type, ranging from approximately $105 to $205 per course.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership program offering free or discounted admission to events, voting privileges at board elections, and quarterly training discounts.
3. Events Revenue: Revenue from The Energy Fair and Industry Demo Day events including exhibitor fees, sponsorships, food vendor registrations, and workshop presenter registrations.
4. Custom Group Training Contracts: Contract training services for organizations including Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) and CEJA programs, providing workforce training to meet program requirements.
5. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from members and supporters, including legacy giving programs. Also receives grants from foundations like Couillard Solar Foundation and Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MREA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that delivers solar and renewable energy training through online and in-person courses, community-based solar group buy programs (Grow Solar), the Solar on Schools initiative, NABCEP credential preparation, and annual events such as the Energy Fair and Industry Demo Day. It also operates the SolarEnergy.Jobs workforce marketplace and provides custom group training for organizations such as Illinois Solar for All and CEJA programs.

Product overview

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) operates as a unified educational platform focused on renewable energy training and workforce development. The organization offers a structured portfolio of training products organized around industry-recognized NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) credentials, including PV Associate Core Course packages (online and in-person), advanced certification courses, and professional development programs. The core training system is delivered through multiple channels: a learning management system (Moodle via Moonami), in-person hands-on labs at their Custer, Wisconsin campus, and custom group training for employers. Key product lines include the PV Associate credential pathway (covering PV 101 through PV 220), advanced board certification packages (PVIP, PVDS, PVIS, PVCMS, PVTS, ESIP), the Grow Solar community program, Solar on Schools initiative, and the annual Energy Fair event. The organization also maintains SolarEnergy.Jobs as a workforce marketplace connecting job seekers with solar industry employers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PV Associate Core Course Package

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 programs in 6 states resulting in 22+ MW of solar installed
• +2 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026MREA partnered with IREC and SEIA to develop National Guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship programs, which were approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. IREC also provides accreditation for MREA's six renewable energy training programs.
• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Partnership with IREC and MREA to develop National Guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship programs in clean energy occupations including wind energy, HVAC, electrical trades, grid modernization, energy storage, and EV infrastructure.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreOthers · 12 May 2026Approved National Guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship programs developed through partnership between SEIA, IREC, and MREA, enabling federally recognized apprenticeship pathways for clean energy careers.
• HOMES Program (Focus on Energy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome efficiency rebate program supported by the Inflation Reduction Act; Wisconsin was first state to utilize IRA funds for home energy efficiency improvements; MREA connects homeowners to this program through Grow Solar.
• Regional Partners (Grow Solar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of regional partners in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan working to facilitate solar permitting best practices, develop model finance arrangements, build workforce capacity, and improve solar market policies.
• Employment ConnectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMREA partnership to help Employment Connection participants connect with skills and solar careers through training programs.
• Association HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMREA partnership with Association House to help train and prepare students for solar careers through specialized training programs.
• Indian Hills Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMREA Board President Prof. Jp Jones developed the Electrical & Renewable Energy Program (TERET.AAS) at Indian Hills College, a comprehensive electrical & energy training program approved by the State of Iowa.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solar Energy International (SEI): SEI is a Colorado-based nonprofit that delivers online and in-person solar PV, battery storage, and renewable energy training aligned to NABCEP credentials. Like MREA, it operates as a mission-driven training organization, hosts workforce development programs, and is a long-standing IREC-accredited provider — making it the closest direct peer in the renewable energy training space.
• HeatSpring: HeatSpring is a leading online continuing education and training platform for solar, building performance, and HVAC professionals, with NABCEP-approved courses. It is comparable to MREA in the PV and energy storage course catalog, the NABCEP-aligned credentialing pathway, and the self-paced online delivery model.
• Everblue: Everblue provides online and in-person training and certification prep for NABCEP credentials, BPI, and LEED across the clean energy workforce. It competes with MREA in the same NABCEP PV Associate and PV Installation Professional prep market and serves similar installer, electrician, and design professional personas.
• Slipstream: Slipstream is a Wisconsin-based clean energy nonprofit whose Managing Director of Education & Training (Ellen Barlas) sits on MREA's board. It is a peer in the Midwest clean energy training and workforce development space and shares MREA's IREC-aligned, state-funded program model.

Broad incumbents

• Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): IREC is the national credentialing and standards body that accredits MREA's six programs and co-developed the DOL apprenticeship guidelines. It is broader in scope (state regulatory and policy work) and partially upstream of MREA as the accreditor, but operates in the same workforce development ecosystem and shares overlapping mission.
• North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP): NABCEP sets the industry-recognized credentialing standards (PV Associate, PVIP, PVDS) that MREA's courses prepare students for. As the credentialing authority rather than a training provider, it is a broader incumbent in the same ecosystem and directly shapes demand for MREA's curriculum.
• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): SEIA is the national solar industry trade association that co-developed the DOL apprenticeship guidelines with MREA and IREC. It is a broader industry advocacy incumbent, not a training provider, but a direct partner in the workforce development strategy MREA is now scaling.

Emerging players

• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): CESA is a nonprofit coalition of state clean energy funds and agencies that coordinates workforce, equity, and program design work across states. It is an emerging player adjacent to MREA's Grow Solar and Solar on Schools initiatives, particularly where IRA-funded state programs are being deployed.
• Vote Solar: Vote Solar is a solar advocacy nonprofit with deep Midwest policy presence (its Deputy Program Director sits on MREA's board). It is an emerging player in the same Midwest clean energy ecosystem, focused on regulatory and legislative work that complements MREA's training and deployment programs.
• GRID Alternatives: GRID Alternatives is a national nonprofit providing solar installation and workforce training, with strong equity and apprenticeship focus. It is an emerging peer in solar workforce development and shares MREA's mission-driven, grant-funded model for training underrepresented populations into clean energy careers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/themrea
• Xx.com/mrea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwest-renewable-energy-association

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Midwest Renewable Energy Association