Energizing the Workforce on EE Day!
Today, October 7th, 2020, we are celebrating Energy Efficiency Day! What is the purpose of EE Day? The Energy Efficiency Day message is simple: “Save Money. Cut Pollution. Create Jobs.” At the SJVCEO, we will always continue to work towards equitable access to affordable energy for the communities that we serve. Our goals and objectives for every project we tackle are expressed in this year’s EE Day message. Saving money for our small rural communities, benefiting the environment, and (most importantly for Energizing the Workforce’s purpose) job creation. Now I mean job creation not only in metropolitan/urban areas of the state but the rural communities as well. We all know by now that we at the SJVCEO have a passion and great understanding of serving these communities, but when it comes to job creation, we cannot do this alone.
Our efforts to recognize and emphasize the importance of clean energy jobs goes beyond that of the EE industry. Within the years to come, energy and climate-related employment opportunities are only going to continue growing to support a clean energy future. With job creation comes countless opportunities for employment programs or even policy changes, but the question is where should these programs exist? If we want to thrive in an equitable workspace, rural California is in dire need.
Upon graduating from college, almost every single person I knew either moved to Los Angeles or San Francisco for work no matter their career choice. Am I saying this is a bad thing? No, but I am saying that this is a trend that we need to break. “The majority of youth in low- and middle-income countries live in rural areas. If few opportunities are available in rural areas, they are likely to migrate to urban centers, even though youth unemployment rates are generally higher in urban areas.” When the energy industry or any industry for that matter is looking to create jobs, they must widen their geographic mindset and include those that are often overlooked.
In a previous edition of ETW, I addressed the lack of trade programs here in the San Joaquin Valley and this reigns true too for job opportunities. “Countries have an urgent choice to make: create employment opportunities, especially in rural areas, and reap the demographic dividends of a young vibrant workforce or face the social unrest and political instability that high rates of youth unemployment may bring about.” The lack of job opportunities in a specific region (ex: rural CA) brings about negative effects that seep into various facets of our lives. Economic impacts, financial stability, and even public services can quickly provide positive results if job opportunities are accessible and available to rural California residents.
“As the economy continues to grow, it is vital that rural America is not left behind. Providing those living in rural areas with the skills and opportunities they need not only to survive but thrive in today’s rapidly changing world of work is both an economic and moral imperative — and one that will require embracing new ways of learning, training and working.” THIS!!! Let us celebrate #EEday2020 by embodying the paragraph above. Create jobs that include rural Americans and utilize practices that make this possible.
Sources:
https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/story/asset/39377222
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/473506-the-untapped-potential-of-americas-rural-workforce