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Energy & Community

Solar That Works for Our Community

Three people working on the structure that will hold solar panels Three people working on the structure that will hold solar panels

From reliable energy generation to local career path creation, see how solar investments in your backyard support many layers within a community.

With the rising demand for reliable power nationwide, renewable energy is just one form of energy generation in a portfolio mix that benefits the country’s needs. In fact, building an energy portfolio is much like building a financial one — diverse sources of energy production help to build a well-rounded power grid that can remain resilient in changing conditions. 

Whether solar is on the rise in your community, or you’re interested in understanding more about this impactful energy generation method, we’ve outlined the numerous benefits solar can bring to rural communities. 

From job creation, economic activity, and tax benefits, solar should be a mutually beneficial investment. 

At McCarthy, we believe in being a community builder first and foremost. Our employee-partners and craft professionals who support each solar project invest in setting roots in and serving the communities in which we live, build, learn, and grow in, adding to the benefits solar brings. 

The Core Benefits of Solar

  • Grid Resilience (Power)

    Solar is one of the fastest built forms of energy generation, with project timelines averaging 18 – 24 months. This means it’s one of our quickest solutions to the rapidly growing need for energy nationwide. A solar project in your community enables stronger grid reliability from local utilities and serves the power needs of local businesses. 

  • Tax & Economic Benefits

    Solar projects bring significant tax revenue that benefit local school districts and public service agencies. In turn, this lowers the financial burden on local residents. During construction, rural communities also benefit from significant local spending from traveling construction crews to local job creation. 

  • Job Creation & Apprenticeships

    Each project opens a significant volume of job opportunities with on-the-job training. In many cases, solar provides a first touch point with the construction industry for rural community members. McCarthy supports long-term career creation through each project, offering apprenticeship training opportunities. 

Each apprentice’s unique story and background continue to emphasize the importance of career generation in solar.

Meet Our Apprentices

McCarthy’s Registered Apprenticeship Program offers professionals looking to grow their careers in solar construction with a combination of On-The-Job Learning (OJL) and Related Instruction (RI). For many, this nationally recognized program can open entirely new career paths across a variety of construction sectors. We offer a four-year registered electrical apprenticeship program that allows solar professionals to become certified electricians while supporting construction on various solar projects. We also offer two-year registered apprenticeship programs for Construction Laborers and Construction Equipment Operators, giving participants exposure to a variety of roles and paths that support a construction project. 

See Where Your Path Takes You | Apply Today

Native grasses and wildflowers growing beneath solar panels

More than a Builder: The right expertise for every project

McCarthy is proud to partner with our developers to transform land into high-performing solar projects, but our focus doesn’t stop at construction. We’re committed to thinking beyond the 30-to-40-year lifespan of a solar project and considering the long-term impact on communities, the environment, and future energy needs.  

Following the decommissioning of a solar facility, the land is returned to its original use, and we operate with the model of leaving it better than you found it. In fact, we’re more than builders. We have in-house experts dedicated to preserving topsoil, maintaining native vegetation, establishing beneficial pollinator colonies and preventing stormwater risks. We’ve even worked with local wildlife rehabilitation partners to relocate barn owls as natural rodent control on our sites. 

Meet Our Experts

  • Christina Hebb headshot

    Christina Hebb

    Vegetation

    Christina supports all of our solar projects through Stormwater Pollution Prevention (SWPPP) and vegetation management. At the heart of her work is a focus on land preservation, environmental protection, and fostering natural resources on each project site. 

    Read more about her efforts. 

  • Rob Moreno headshot

    Rob Moreno

    Energy Storage

    In addition to renewable energy, McCarthy is helping developers build energy storage solutions as power generation that can stand alone or be paired with a solar facility. Rob Moreno is helping landowners, businesses, and renewable energy developers uncover the long-term grid reliability benefits that come with storage. 

    Read more about storage.

  • Keith Wagner headshot

    Keith Wagner

    Operations & Maintenance

    As a service to our solar developers, McCarthy offers in-house operations and maintenance for the facilities we build. With a 24/7 command center and a dedicated O&M team, Keith aims to help developers optimize the collection of solar energy through fine tuning a plant’s operations. 

Solar, Agriculture and Stronger Communities

Discover how pairing solar with working farms can stabilize local incomes, preserve agricultural land and support healthier ecosystems for generations.

Learn More about Solar & Agriculture

Wildflowers and vegetation in front of a row of solar panels.

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