The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is an environmental advocacy organization that provides job training for weather-dependent energy companies and home improvement companies that focus on improvements that address energy efficiency. ¹ It also has contracted with regulators and received public funding to propose utility regulations pertaining to solar energy storage and connection to the power grid while advocating for policies that eliminate restrictions on solar use. ²

IREC partners with employers to allow them to connect with participants of its job training programs while encouraging them to hire ethnic minorities, women, LGBT people, and immigrants at higher rates. ³

Background

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982 to advocate for the use of weather-dependent energy. In 2021, IREC merged with the Solar Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocated for the adoption of solar energy. ¹

IREC offers courses on weather-dependent energy that advocate for adoption of and reliance on it. IREC also advocates utility regulations that encourage the use of weather-dependent energy and electric vehicle subsidies. ¹

Green Workforce Connect

Green Workforce Connect is an online job board for weather-dependent energy and weatherization companies that was created by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council to increase the hiring of ethnic minorities, women, LGBT people, and people with disabilities. With support from government programs, Green Workforce Connect offers apprenticeship programs for job seekers. ⁴

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council offers “clean energy training programs” through which it offers an accreditation process for workforce readiness programs relevant to jobs offered by environmentalist energy companies. It raises funds through job training program application fees for programs seeking accreditation. ^{4 5}

In 2023, IREC reported that $1.3 million of its revenue came from its job training apprenticeship, and accreditation programs. ⁶ Approximately $90,000 of its revenue was specifically attributable to its credentialing fees. ⁷ In 2023, IREC was awarded a five year, $3.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to fund its apprenticeship and accreditation programs. ⁸

IREC’s Green Workforce Connect program has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy to promote jobs funded by the department’s Weatherization Assistance Program. The program provides home weatherization improvements designed to increase energy efficiency for eligible low-income households and awards funding through partner states. ⁹

Advocacy

In 2019, The U.S. Department of Energy awarded the Interstate Renewable Energy Council $1.3 million to develop guidance on solar energy storage and interconnection regulations to increase the adoption of solar energy. In April 2024, it was announced that California, Michigan, New Mexico, and Vermont had adopted the regulations proposed by IREC. ¹⁰

The proposed regulations included an increase in legal solar energy storage methods, allowable methods for connecting to energy grids for solar energy systems, and additional clarification on interconnection regulations designed to simplify compliance. ¹¹

Diversity Initiatives

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council advocates for weather-dependent energy companies to recruit and hire women and racial minorities. It works with employers and environmental agencies to require that women, transgender individuals, and other minorities are hired, and it condemns notions that women may need help with tasks on the job. IREC advocates for diversity hiring policies and for the adoption of feminist beliefs and values in the general “workplace culture.” ¹²

Leadership

Larry Sherwood is the president emeritus of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, having worked as president and CEO from 2016 to 2025 after previously being vice president and COO from 2013 to 2016. He has also worked as executive director of the Small Wind Certification Council, the American Solar Energy Society, and the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, and as the project administrator for the Solar America Board for Codes and Standards. ¹³

Financials

In 2023, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council reported receiving $3.87 million in government grants, consisting of over 52.5 percent of its $7.37 million in total revenue. ¹⁴ Between 2009 and May 2025, IREC has received over $58.6 million in funding from federal government programs. ¹⁵

In 2023, IREC also reported $7.60 million in total expenses, including $3.89 million in salaries and compensation of its employees. ¹⁶

1. “About IREC.” Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://irecusa.org/about-irec/.
2. “Regulatory Engagement.” Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://irecusa.org/our-work/regulatory-engagement/.
3.  “Workforce Diversity and Inclusion.” Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://irecusa.org/our-work/workforce-diversity-and-inclusion/.
4. “Workforce Development Strategies.” Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://irecusa.org/our-work/workforce-development-strategies/.
5. “IREC Credentials How to Apply.” Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://irecusa.org/clean-energy-training/credentials/irec-credentials-how-to-apply/.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 2023. Part III, Line 4b.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 2023. Part VIII, Line 2c.
8.  “Contract Summary.” USA Spending. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_1605C223C0015_1605_-NONE-_-NONE-.
9. “New Initiative Will Connect Oklahomans to Home Weatherization Careers.” Oklahoma Commerce. January 25, 2024. https://www.okcommerce.gov/new-initiative-will-connect-oklahomans-to-home-weatherization-careers/.
10. “Success Story—Improving the Interconnection for Solar Energy and Battery Storage.” United States Department of Energy. April 23, 2024. https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/success-story-improving-interconnection-solar-energy-and-battery-storage.
11. “Toolkit and Guidance for the Interconnection of Energy Storage and Solar-Plus-Storage.” BATRIES. March 30, 2022. https://energystorageinterconnection.org/resources/batries-toolkit/.
12. “Female solar workers can face prejudice. This woman wants that to change.” Yale Climate Connections. February 10, 2023. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/02/female-solar-workers-can-face-prejudice-this-woman-wants-that-to-change/
13. “Larry Sherwood.” Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://irecusa.org/about-irec/our-team/#11-larry-sherwood.
14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 2023. Part VIII.
15. “Recipient Profile: Interstate Renewable Energy Council.” USA Spending. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient/879d47ad-4e69-b7b7-fbdb-882db0564f05-C/latest?section=top-five.
16. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 2023. Part I, Lines 15-18.