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Geographic coverage of the Southeast Solar Training Network includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, the U. S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The goal of the solar instructor training program is to make alternative energy training – photovoltaics (PV) and solar water heating (SWH ) technologies – available throughout the Southeastern U.S. and territories. The program is designed to meet the needs of the solar industry in response to market demands and to ensure safe and high-quality installations.  The training involves classroom time as well as demonstration and hands-on learning. Both solar thermal and PV courses require hands-on system experience in order to acquire the relevant skills required for code compliance and safe and effective installations.

Listed below are the Southeast Solar Training Network partners as well as the educational institutions that have participated in the solar training workshops at the Florida Solar Energy Center.

Alabama – Energy Division

The mission of the Alabama Energy Division is to increases energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and promote market acceptance and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Energy efficiency and renewable programs include Alternative Transportation Fuels, Biomass Energy, Building Energy Efficiency, Energy Emergency and Assurance, Energy Education, Energy Star, Industrial Energy Efficiency, Local Government Energy Loan, Recycling, RideShare, Saving Energy at Home, and Transportation Fuel Economy.

Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Arkansas Energy Office

The Arkansas Energy Office of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission provides essential information about all types of energy resources and uses in Arkansas. Wise energy use is a top priority for the Energy Office. This task is accomplished by engaging in several education projects designed to improve the awareness of energy efficiency throughout Arkansas. Teaching Arkansas’ youth to be smart energy users through effective education is a prime objective of the Arkansas Energy Office; Renewable energy is an integral part of student education in Arkansas, fostering sustainable energy behaviors from an early age.

Florida Energy Office

The Florida Energy Office provides the staff and resources to the Executive Office of the Governor within the Florida Energy & Climate Commission and is the State's center for developing and implementing Florida's energy plan, energy policy and coordination of all federal energy programs delegated to Florida. The Office has also helped develop and implement the 2006 Florida Energy Act focusing on advancing the development of clean energy sources, energy conservation and efficiency.

Georgia – Southface Energy Institute

Southface is a nonprofit corporation, with a longstanding reputation for providing sound environmental education and outreach programs. Southface has helped people save energy and water and conserve natural resources. Driven by our region's growing environmental challenges, Southface has successfully fostered unique partnerships and developed programs that will enable anyone to understand and adopt responsible practices for environmental living.  Southface’s programs and services reached about 40,000 people last year, and our media impressions exceeded 200 million. Southface offers educational courses and training events in a variety of contexts. The formats are varied and range from multi-day workshops on building science; one-day seminars on energy code; to certified Home Energy Rating Systems courses.

Kentucky - Div. of Renewable Energy, Dept. for Energy Development & Independence

The Department's mission is to improve the quality and security of life for all Kentuckians by creating efficient, sustainable energy solutions and strategies; by protecting the environment; and by creating a base for strong economic growth.

Mississippi Development Authority – Energy Division

Through its programs and activities, the Energy Division of the Mississippi Development Authority promotes the efficient and environmentally acceptable use of energy in all sectors of the Mississippi economy. The Energy Division encourages an environment that enhances the State’s access to cost competitive, available energy resources that benefit economic development. Programs within the Energy Office cover biomass, clean cities, energy for transportation and alternative fuel vehicles. The Mississippi Energy Network Program is related to the Southeast Solar Training Network. The Energy Network Program provides educational materials and resources on a variety of energy topics to consumers, educators and students as well as presentations and demonstrations on energy efficiency topics.

Tennessee - Dept. of Economic & Community Development, Energy Policy Section

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth.

Puerto Rico - Energy Affairs Administration

Puerto Rico enacted legislation in August 2008 in an effort to reduce its 68% reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. This act provides an individual tax payer with a credit against the taxpayer's personal income tax for purchasing and installing solar electric equipment.  In addition, Puerto Rico businesses dedicated to the production of energy through the use of renewable sources are eligible for economic incentives that include tax credits, credits for R&D expenditures and real and property tax exemptions.

U. S. Virgin Islands – Energy Office - Office of the Governor

The Virgin Islands Energy Office is part of the Office of the Governor. As such it has developed the Virgin Island energy programs on energy education, energy efficiency and renewable energy use in buildings and the development of a comprehensive energy strategy.

Additional listing of educational institutions that offer workshops and hands-on training for renewable energy courses can be obtained at the IREC Clean Energy Training Directory.