Julian Chester is a Prince George's Community College alum, excited to begin his new career climbing rooftops and layering solar panels to harness the sun's energy as a solar installer.

Chester, a 41-year-old Maryland resident enrolled in PGCC's solar certification class, joins lawmakers and community advocates in the fight to solve Maryland's energy supply shortage.

"Using solar power is getting back to the basics of natural resources and energy," Chester said. "Solar power not only brings down costs, it reduces pollution."

The College offers professional certifications in solar energy and hybrid/electric vehicles as a lucrative career path to meet the needs of a changing economy.

Chester wanted to advance his career as an electrician and selected PGCC's Sustainable Energy Workforce Development Program (SEWDP) to expand his job opportunities. PGCC is one of the few resources in Prince George's County to offer job training and local connections in the solar power industry.

"While the use of the sun as energy dates back to ancient Egyptian times, there are many more ways to manipulate the use of solar energy," Chester said. "In the future, solar could be used for development in the medical field or to fly a large aircraft."

Both Chester's father and his older brother encouraged him to pursue a field where he could utilize a skilled trade to work for himself. His ultimate career goal is to establish a company that specializes in installing solar arrays for both residential and commercial use. To gain experience, he is focused on securing his first position in the field.

"Interviewing has been going very well," Chester said. "I was able to speak about what I learned in the class with confidence and expertise. This is a growing field that is not going out of style. There's money in solar."

Behind Chester's success is a team of faculty and community partners dedicated to positioning PGCC as a regional solar hub that connects Marylanders to training and job opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

"Because this is an emerging industry in our region, it is imperative that Prince George's County residents take advantage of this opportunity to receive training and seek jobs," John Deadwyler, PGCC's program director of the SEWDP, said. "We have the power to change our future communities through these innovative programs."

Established in 2021, the Sustainable Energy Workforce Development Program (SEWDP) at PGCC is a partnership with the Prince George's County Department of the Environment's Sustainable Energy. SEWDP provides occupational skills and work-based learning to prepare eligible county residents for employment by earning certifications or licenses in solar energy careers and hybrid/electric vehicle maintenance.

In fiscal year 2025, PGCC partnered with Clean Slate Solar to establish the Solar Learning Laboratory, which offers workforce development training that teaches students how to install solar panels and perform solar panel maintenance. This collaboration aligns with Prince George's County's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster a resilient, green economy.

"Through the learning process, I can tell the PGCC faculty have a passion not only for their work, but also for student safety, knowledge in the field, and career success," Chester said.

According to the Solar Energy Association, as of 2023, nearly 280,000 Americans work in solar at more than 10,000 companies in every U.S. state. In 2024, the solar industry generated over $70 billion of private investment in the American economy. Solar's increasing competitiveness against other technologies has allowed the industry to quickly increase its share of total U.S. electrical generation, from just 0.1% in 2010 to more than 6% today.

PGCC students, such as Bobby Gallon, 67, are interested in the long-term economic benefits of the solar industry. He takes PGCC's electric vehicle automotive class every year to inform his travel plans for personal use and to upskill in preparation for opening an automotive repair company.

Gallon, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is a retired Air Force veteran of 22 years and an information technology and network security contractor. A self-described lifelong learner, he believes in staying active, prepared, and maintaining three income streams.

"Knowledge is power," Gallon said. "Idle minds lead to an early grave, as they say in the military. The military taught me you always have to know how to take care of people."

Chester and Gallon demonstrate how PGCC's SEWDP program is teaching PGCC students to strengthen Maryland's workforce and advance sustainability goals. When education and innovation align, Maryland's communities can rise to meet the demands of a clean energy transition.