The Solar Foundation

Name

The Solar Foundation

Legal name

Interstate Renewable Energy Council

Website

https://thesolarfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Workforce Development and Renewable Energy Policy

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop) (EUAMABAA)

Keywords

• Clean energy regulation
• Workforce development
• Solar interconnection standards
• Renewable energy policy
• Clean energy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Solar Foundation (operating content describing IREC) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds the foundation for the rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency through three interrelated pathways: regulatory engagement (Model Interconnection Procedures, grid modernization, smart inverters, energy storage), workforce development (Career Maps, Green Workforce Connect platform, Clean Energy Apprenticeships, Credentialing Program), and local clean energy solutions (SolSmart, Charging Smart, SolarAPP+ permitting). It sells standalone programs, online tools, and publications to state regulators, local governments, training providers, and clean energy employers.

Product overview

IREC (Interstate Renewable Energy Council) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as a platform organization with multiple interconnected programs focused on workforce development, regulatory engagement, and local clean energy solutions. The core offerings include career exploration platforms (Solar Career Map, HVAC/R Career Map, Green Buildings Career Map) and workforce platforms (Green Workforce Connect, National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance, Clean Energy Training). Supporting tools include the National Solar Licensing Database, SolarAPP+ for permitting automation, and SolSmart/Charging Smart for local government assistance. IREC's three pathways focus on regulatory engagement for grid transformation, workforce development for building the clean energy workforce of the future, and local clean energy solutions for empowering local governments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Workforce Connect: Platform bringing together job seekers, employers, and educators to support the growth of a highly trained energy workforce with opportunities for all.
• SolSmart
• Charging Smart
• SolarAPP+
• Solar Career Map
• National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance

Products and services

• Green Workforce Connect An online platform that brings together job seekers, employers, and educators to support the growth of a highly trained energy workforce with opportunities for all. It serves workforce development professionals, clean energy employers, and individuals pursuing clean energy careers.
• Solar Career Map An interactive tool exploring solar energy occupations, describing diverse jobs across the industry, charting possible progression between them, and identifying necessary credentials. Covers 40 jobs across 4 industry sectors with more than 60 advancement routes. It is for career advisors, educators, job seekers, and workforce developers.
• HVAC/R Career Map An interactive career exploration tool for the heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry, demonstrating advancement routes and green jobs. Includes over 150 advancement routes. It serves HVAC/R workers, trainers, and career advisors.
• Green Buildings Career Map A highly interactive tool exploring the green buildings and energy efficiency industry across four major sectors, identifying progression between occupations and necessary credentials. Includes 55 new-collar jobs and over 300 advancement routes. It serves green building professionals, workforce developers, and career advisors.
• National Solar Licensing Database A comprehensive national database providing information and references to licensing, certification, and other requirements impacting the solar industry across all U.S. states. It serves solar installers, policymakers, and regulators.
• SolSmart A national program providing technical assistance and recognition to help cities, counties, and small towns expand solar energy options. Has helped over 500 communities adopt best practices for solar deployment. It serves local government sustainability and planning officials.
• Charging Smart A program supporting local governments in deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure as part of clean energy solutions. It serves municipal transportation, sustainability, and planning officials.
• SolarAPP+ A solar permitting tool designed to streamline and automate the solar permitting process for local governments. It serves building and permitting departments in municipalities.
• Freeing the Grid An annual publication providing interconnection grades showing improvement in several states, offering insight to bring distributed energy resources online faster. It serves state regulators, policymakers, and clean energy advocates.
• National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance A cross-sector effort led by the organization with support from Bank of America Charitable Foundation to improve clean energy education, training, and job placement outcomes. Since January 2022, the Alliance has held regular convenings with more than 2,800 employers, training providers, community-based organizations, and energy justice organizations.
• Clean Energy Training Training programs including Allied Professional Training, micro-credentials, and online training development for clean energy workforce development. It serves training providers, educators, and individuals pursuing clean energy careers.
• Credentialing Program Structured programs for earning credentials in clean energy fields through defined credentialing pathways. It serves training providers, employers, and individuals seeking industry-recognized credentials.
• Solar Ready Vets Resources and programs supporting veterans in transitioning into the solar workforce. It serves veterans, transition assistance programs, and military-to-civilian employment partners.
• Apprenticeships in Clean Energy Network Network connecting individuals to clean energy apprenticeships and helping employers improve recruitment outcomes. Has connected 1,000+ individuals to clean energy apprenticeships. It serves job seekers, apprenticeship sponsors, and clean energy employers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP): National solar credentialing body. Comparable because both IREC and NABCEP set workforce standards, credentials, and certification pathways for the U.S. solar workforce.
• National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO): Association of state energy officials. Comparable because IREC's regulatory and workforce work directly interfaces with state energy offices on policy and program design.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Nonprofit coalition of state clean energy funds and programs. Highly comparable as a mission-aligned organization focused on state-level clean energy program design, deployment, and peer learning.
• Vote Solar: State-focused solar advocacy nonprofit. Comparable as a mission-driven organization working on state interconnection policy and equitable solar deployment, overlapping with IREC's regulatory engagement.
• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Independent clean energy think tank. Comparable as a nonprofit producing influential analysis on grid modernization, DERs, and energy transition policy where IREC also operates.
• Solar Energy International (SEI): Solar training and education nonprofit. Comparable to IREC's training, credentialing, and Solar Career Map offerings in delivering workforce pathways into solar jobs.
• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): National solar industry trade association. Comparable to IREC because both serve as advocacy and convening bodies for U.S. solar deployment, with overlapping state-policy and workforce initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• American Clean Power Association (ACP): Industry association for wind, solar, storage, and transmission. Comparable as a broader incumbent in clean energy policy and interconnection advocacy where IREC also operates.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): U.S. Department of Energy national lab. Comparable as a broader institution producing technical standards, interconnection research, and workforce data that complements IREC's regulatory and program work.

Emerging players

• Building Performance Institute (BPI): Credentialing body for residential energy efficiency and HVAC. Comparable because BPI sits adjacent to IREC's HVAC/R Career Map and credentialing programs in the broader clean energy workforce stack.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-solar-foundation
• Xx.com/SolarFound
• Facebookfacebook.com/155035753010

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Solar Foundation