Powering Up: Black Sustainability's Solar Momentum Is Just Getting Started
- Jordan Roberts
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
There are moments when the work you've been quietly building suddenly steps into the spotlight. For Black Sustainability, Inc., this is one of them.
Our CoFounder and Executive Director Raina Turner-Greenlea, has just been confirmed to sit on the Board of the Georgia Solar Energy Association (GA Solar), a recognition of years spent championing equitable access to the green economy in Atlanta and beyond. It's a milestone that carries weight far past a title. It signals that the voices calling for inclusive solar workforce development now have a seat at the table where Georgia's energy policy gets shaped.
The timing couldn't be more fitting. This news arrives on the heels of a Fox 5 Atlanta feature spotlighting our work, and as we celebrate the completion of not one, but two cohorts through our partnership with GRID Alternatives. Momentum, it turns out, tends to arrive in waves.
Why a Seat on the GA Solar Board Matters
Georgia has earned its reputation as the #1 state for business, and much of that growth is being powered, quite literally, by smart, innovative energy solutions. GA Solar sits at the center of that shift.
The organization advocates for accessible solar power on behalf of Georgia's energy consumers, working directly with local and state leaders to shape policies that make solar more available, more affordable, and more attractive to invest in.
GA Solar also plays a critical role behind the scenes for the professionals doing the work: keeping solar installers, contractors, and technicians current on industry trends, technical standards, and the latest developments in the field.
It connects homeowners and businesses with trusted solar experts, giving consumers real guidance to evaluate their options, save money, and cut their environmental footprint. The organization is led by experts across solar technology, manufacturing, academia, finance, and law, a coalition driving Georgia's transition to solar through education, advocacy, and industry support.
Having Raina at that table means the pipeline of Black and underrepresented talent we've spent years developing now has direct representation in the conversations that decide where this industry goes next.
Two Cohorts, Real Careers
Policy and advocacy matter, but so does what happens after training ends and the job search begins. That's where the real proof of this work shows up.
We recently celebrated the completion of two cohorts through our partnership with GRID Alternatives, and the results are already speaking for themselves. Don Tonic, Training Manager - Contractor Services at GRID Alternatives, shared an update that says it all:
"We have already brought on Mario, Charles, Qualon & most likely Askia, Cohort 1 graduates, as well to work in the field for Solar Plus. We've been blessed with some consistent clients & are now also blessed to hire & pay $25/hr to such great fellas. We're also very close to our Solar Plus 2.0 relaunch. There's a vast amount of O&M, troubleshooting & repair work in the state for both residential & commercial."
Don went on to note that Solar Plus anticipates two to three full-time positions opening up before Christmas, more doors opening for graduates ready to walk through them.
This is the outcome we train for: not just certificates, but careers. Not just curriculum, but people earning $25 an hour doing skilled work that didn't exist for them a year ago. Mario, Charles, Qualon, and Askia aren't just Cohort 1 graduates, they're proof that workforce development done right creates a direct line from classroom to paycheck.
The Bigger Picture
None of this happens in isolation. A board seat at GA Solar, a feature on Fox 5 Atlanta, two completed cohorts, and graduates already on payroll: these are all threads of the same story. Black Sustainability is building real infrastructure for Black and underrepresented communities to lead in the clean energy economy, not just participate in it.
The demand is there. As Don pointed out, Georgia's solar industry has a vast amount of operations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair work waiting to be filled across both residential and commercial markets. The jobs exist. Our work is making sure our communities are trained, certified, and positioned to fill them.
This is just the beginning. With a voice on the GA Solar Board, a growing network of employer partners like GRID Alternatives, and graduates already proving their value in the field, Black Sustainability is positioned to keep this momentum going, cohort after cohort, career after career.
Nice!
Great read!