“HELP WANTED: Diversity in Clean Energy” brings updated evidence and perspective into one of the largest issues within our industry, “clean energy has a diversity problem.”
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I was introduced to an online tool that I think can change the trajectory of how we educate individuals about the potential career opportunities that all tie into the sectors that our work crosses into (Energy, Climate, Environment, etc.). The Green Buildings Career Map (created by IREC) offers a high-level overview of the opportunities for job entry into industries like facility management, construction, or even commercial retrofitting.
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“A critical starting point for practitioners is to understand trends around growing green industries, workforce needs, and laws that may limit the types of jobs individuals with a criminal record can legally perform.”
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The SJVCEO strives to build upon the successes of other programs that bring positive outcomes to vulnerable populations that are often left behind. How can we serve these communities with workforce resources? Are there any existing programs we can refer people in to? Is there a specific model that works best? This is where we want to highlight the Willdan Clean Energy Academy, a workforce development program based out of New York that is “empowering trainees to learn the skills necessary to uncover energy savings opportunities.”
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Just last week our partners at Southern California Edison and Edison International announced the implementation of a new scholarship program, the Lineworker Scholarship, “to help increase diversity in skilled trade.”
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The agriculture industry is facing complex challenges as demand for food grows along with the population, and a changing climate threatens the environment farming depends on. Increased energy efficiency may be key to meeting these challenges.
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At the SJVCEO, one of the pillars of our work promotes enhancing local control to the communities that we serve. Allowing the stakeholders and residents to make the decisions, influence policy, and establish goals for their community brings a sense of ownership and comradery to the region.
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It is always a great day when we see energy related stories into the news, but even better when this news is coming from our own backyard. Our California communities are making strides and creating change where change is needed. Enhancing access to employment into a region that is often overlooked by countless programs and opportunities makes this news even better.
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To continue learning and expanding my knowledge on EE Workforce issues, I have had the amazing opportunity to be a member of the ACEEE Inclusive EE Workforce Development Learning Group that started in December of 2020. ACEEE is a pivotal voice when it comes to countless topics related to EE, but when it comes to the cross connection between equity in energy, their knowledge is unmatched. Within this working group I was referring to, you will find stakeholders stationed across the country all working to push equitable practices in the energy space. Representatives from utilities, program administrators, and community-based organizations all find themselves in an influential space to make a progressive difference in the world of EE- and I am honored to be a part of it.
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However, as we continue our journey through climate change, policy adjustments, social and environmental justice, we need an expansion. Looking beyond clean energy careers, we need to create and promote “climate adaptive careers” that will serve at the forefront of an equitable workforce.
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As the new year commences, SJVCEO’s dedication to fighting for equitable workforce initiatives will push through. 2020 presented a new set of challenges for all and while we conquered through them (with some successes and some failures), our eyes opened even wider to the inequities in communities throughout California that were suffering at disproportionate levels. The year ahead presents a new chapter for us to author that will not only address these challenges head on but create a space for stakeholders to engage and converse about these challenges.
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In the year 2020, any good news makes the days seem a little less dark and today I came across a story that brought quite a bit of light into the day.
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After what seemed like years of awaiting results, we now have a new president entering the White House in January, former Vice President Joe Biden. A few months ago, I covered Joe Biden’s Clean Energy Revolution, which was a set of plans and policies that would be enacted if he were to win the election. Now that he is the President-Elect, stakeholders across the county are taking a deeper look into what these policies will look like for their own communities.
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“This level of transparency is a critical step in creating greater accountability and identifying those areas where we can have the most significant impact.”
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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
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From HVAC training, electrician programs, and construction certifications, there are countless trade paths that can lead to the energy industry. With the opportunity to expand our workforce, we must also recognize that the way we go about hiring and recruiting must also expand. In my own personal experience, there is an associated stigma around vocational/trade school and I am here to tell you why that is not only wrong but why it is so important for our industry to encourage these programs to better our workforce.
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Over this last weekend, as wildfires continue to blaze through the majority of California, our first responders are fighting tirelessly to save the communities that we love and cherish. Amongst this group of people, are inmates throughout counties in California.
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Amid a global pandemic, California has been ignited by countless wildfires across the state, mostly in the northern region. Even walking out the front door of my home in the Central Valley, there is a layer of smoke that has settled in the skies enhancing the poor air quality that residents of the valley often face. As of Sunday afternoon, the fires have scorched up to 1,000,000 acres as a result of the triple-digit heatwave and up to 12,000 lighting strikes in California.
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Through the last year, we have reiterated how vast the opportunity for workforce growth and development is in the energy sector. With the number of jobs at a constant rise, we will need to expand our resources and grow even more in order to support a clean energy economy for our country and the world. The increase in optimism and drive at the beginning of the year began to fade with the outbreak of COVID-19 and all the changes that accompanied it. However, as we continue to work towards a clean energy future, it is imperative that we continuously address our workforce issues and opportunities to result in an even stronger outcome in the end.
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