Alberta group wants government to support program to retrain oilsands workers

EDMONTON — A group of oilsands workers wants the Alberta government to support a program to retrain unemployed electricians as solar panel installers.

Lliam Hildebrand is executive director of Iron & Earth, a non-profit organization.

He says the group has developed a plan to retrain 1,000 people but needs help from the province and from industry.

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Hildebrand says it wants the government to designate provincial buildings for solar panels as part of the training plan.

READ MORE: Alberta’s oil and gas veterans look elsewhere for jobs after layoffs

Iron and Earth estimates it would cost about $8 million to install solar panels in 100 buildings.

Hildebrand says eventually the group would like to develop programs to put more oilsands veterans to work in renewable energy projects such as wind, geothermal and biofuels.