President Preckwinkle announced that Cook County was selected for a $1.1 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. With these funds, Cook County will partner with HIRE360 and OAI to establish the Chicagoland Solar Collaborative to identify needs and develop solutions to support the emerging market and increased demand for solar installation. Cook County is one of twelve organizations selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO)’s $13.5 million Advancing Equity through Workforce Partnerships program to facilitate the rapid deployment of solar energy technologies by growing and supporting an inclusive workforce with opportunities for union membership. According to the DOE, the projects in this funding program are demand-driven, worker-centric, leverage existing infrastructure and resources, are sustainable and replicable, and prioritize energy justice issues. According to the 2022 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, the solar industry employs over 330,000 people and added 17, 200 new jobs in 2021. The report also found that while the solar industry is more diverse than some other energy industries, the overall energy workforce lags in Hispanic (17%), Black (8%), and Indigenous worker (1%) representation. With solar power potentially contributing up to one third of the U.S. electricity supply, the U.S. Department of Energy recognizes the need for more equity and inclusivity in the industry.