Faces of Solar: Keyon McLaurin, Commercial Solar Installer at Knobelsdorff

Keyon McLaurin has always been passionate about helping others, but after spending a few years in prison as a young adult, he found that it was he who needed a little help.  

“I was going to school to become a corporate lawyer, but then I got into some trouble and ended up in prison from 18 to 21 years old. Before then, it was never hard for me to find a job. But no one wanted to take a chance on me when I got out,” he explained. 

While getting back on his feet by working a service job, Keyon learned about the 548 Foundation, a Chicago-based organization whose Clean Energy Training Program gives people from disadvantaged communities—such as those with low literacy, previous incarceration, or a background in the foster system—an opportunity to launch meaningful careers in the solar industry. 

“For men who have been in the system, there aren’t a lot of opportunities in family-supporting careers once you’re on the outside. The 548 is a game-changer for these folks; it opens doors to a high-paying career, allowing them to support their families.” 

Today, Keyon works as a Commercial Solar Installer at Knobelsdorff, where he constructs and maintains photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial solar projects.  

“It’s long hours and hard labor, but the work inspires me. Building solar sites is how I can help people and show kindness through my work, which is something the world needs,” Keyon said. “I love that I can contribute to my community one solar panel at a time.”  

Programs like the 548 Foundation are part of the Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, also known as CEJA Workforce Hubs. There are 13 hubs across Illinois that prepare individuals for careers in clean energy. As certified CEJA programs, these hubs are dedicated to reaching individuals in underserved and overlooked communities, bringing them into the clean energy workforce. 

“Our state has programs that no other state has,” Keyon said. “CEJA has given so many people who historically haven’t had the chance to advance in high-paying careers, like infrastructure. Illinois made it possible for me—and it can make it possible for you, too.” 

The Illinois solar industry is on the rise, as are the number of jobs in solar in the state: nearly 6,000 as of Q4 2024. This investment in the clean energy workforce is set to triple the state’s capacity in the next five years, with an additional 10,100 megawatts projected to connect to the grid by 2030!  

 When asked why more people should consider a career in the solar industry, Keyon responded with a question of his own: 

“Do you care about your future? And not just your own future, but the future of your family, your kids, and the world? Because joining solar is all about that,” he said. “The world is headed in a scary direction with climate change, and that’s on us humans. It’s also on us, then, to help curb that direction. To join the solar industry is to care about the future.”