EXPO 2020: Training a 21st Century Clean Energy Workforce

2020 RENEWABLE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXPO Panel 1: Training a 21st Century Clean Energy Workforce Panel 2: Macro Benefits of Microgrids Panel 3: Advancing Climate Solutions Through Environmental Justice Panel 4: Efficient Buildings as Energy Grid Resources Panel 5: Sustainable Transportation Panel 6: New Frontiers in Clean Energy Research & Development

On July 30, 2020, the 23rd Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum brought together 25 businesses, trade associations, and government agencies to showcase clean energy industries. The bipartisan House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses served as the EXPO's honorary co-hosts, and the event was held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first panel of the day, “Training a 21st Century Clean Energy Workforce,” was a perfect opening: it all starts with the workforce. Keeping that workforce trained and familiar with the latest techniques and technologies is critical for the United States to retain its edge as a global leader in clean energy, and to do its part as it works with its neighbors to ensure a sustainable and prosperous North American continent.

View the video above, or read the highlights below.

Group 1—Training a 21st Century Clean Energy Workforce

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) Government of Canada American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Building Clean (BlueGreen Alliance)

Daniel Simmons, Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy Eric Belair, Director General of the Energy Policy and International Affairs Branch (EPIB), Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada Neil James, Vice President, Operations and Maintenance, Apex Clean Energy on behalf of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Hillary Bright, Director of Special Projects, Building Clean (BlueGreen Alliance)

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Daniel Simmons, Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy

• A knowledgeable energy workforce is essential for American competitiveness and energy security. EERE is committed to investing in the next generation of scientists and engineers.
• There is incredible value in workforce training, and training programs need to be adaptable.
• In June 2020, EERE announced $20 million in funding for the University of Tennessee (UT) and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to support workforce development in clean energy. This is a five-year program, which builds upon the existing partnership between UT and ORNL. The project will use a modular interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates new opportunities in the energy field with real world skills. This curriculum may serve as a national model for future programs. Program themes include automation, resilient and secure energy systems, advanced materials science, and circular economy principles.
• EERE also started the Solar Ready Vets program in 2014 to support transitioning service members as they join the growing solar industry. The pilot program supported 526 service members in 10 states. In 2019, the Solar Ready Vets Network was established to continue the work of the pilot program.
• EERE also works with companies to run competitions for students on topics that include solar and mobility solutions. For company sponsors, like General Motors, this is a real talent recruitment program for them.
• The Solar Decathlon is one of DOE’s premiere student programs. It is a competition that encourages students to develop next-generation, high-efficiency building technologies.
• Another building-related program at EERE that contributes to workforce development is the Advanced Building Construction Initiative, which aims to modernize U.S. construction and renovation practices so that they integrate energy efficiency measures. As part of that work, EERE tackles related challenges, such as workforce training.
• In April 2020, DOE announced $4.5 million in funding for the program Education Materials for Professional Organizations Working on Efficiency and Renewable Energy Developments (EMPOWERED). This program provides training for professionals who are newly interacting with distributed energy resources (i.e., solar, energy storage, energy efficiency, and alternative-fuel vehicles). The types of professionals range from first responders to building managers.
• EERE is also highlighting the important contribution of hydrogen to the energy mix. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is working with DOE on new hydrogen programs, including one called H2Edge.
• We are seeing interest in hydrogen power at the state level as well. For example, Florida Power and Light utility announced this week that NextEra will build an electrolyzer to generate 100 percent green hydrogen from solar power.
• Developing the next generation of scientists—the 21st century workforce—is part of DOE and EERE’s mission, under the umbrella of the STEM Rising program.
• There is a need to be moving as quickly to develop the workforce as we are to develop the technology. As we do this, we need to ensure the diversity of the STEM workforce so that it looks like the great diverse nation in which we live.

 

Eric Belair, Director General of the Energy Policy and International Affairs Branch (EPIB), Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada

• The pandemic has changed our world, but has not damped our resolve to build a clean energy future.
• Inclusivity is key to a clean energy future. We cannot leave traditional energy employees behind.
• Energy needs to be clean, reliable, and affordable.
• We are proud to have such an integrated energy system in North America. Canada is a reliable supplier of energy to the United States, including oil, gas, and hydropower. This energy relationship supports well-paying jobs in both countries.
• Canada is deeply committed to addressing climate change. Canada has put a price on pollution, committed to phasing out coal-fired power plants [by 2030], invested in new technology and green infrastructure, and recently joined the Three Percent Club to improve global energy efficiency.
• Our commitment to the energy transition must include energy workers.
  • Canada is putting measures in place to help communities impacted by closures of coal-fired power plants, including CA$150 million ($112 million) in funding for training and a dedicated infrastructure fund for economic diversification.
  • Part of the Canadian government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been to leverage existing skills and keep jobs in the energy sector. One way they are doing this is to employ people to clean up orphaned wells.
  • It is also critical to support communities not connected to the grid. These are usually the rural communities in northern Canada that are made up of mostly indigenous peoples. There are efforts underway to reduce their reliance on diesel in order to improve energy security and efficiency.
• A successful, sustainable recovery means balancing the economy with protecting workers, and ensuring that we take into account the impact of the pandemic on marginalized and vulnerable groups. Lifting up women and indigenous people will be important to the recovery.
• Canada is among the 150 countries and organizations that have joined the international Equal by 30 campaign.
  • The goal is to work towards equal pay, equal leadership, and equal opportunity for women in clean energy by 2030.
  • There is a gender gap in the clean energy sector, and we are leaving skilled talent on the table.
• Canada has a program to engage Ontario First Nations youth in the clean energy transition. This is yet another way that Canada is working to have a diverse, qualified labor pool for the clean energy economy.

 

Neil James, Vice President, Operations and Maintenance, Apex Clean Energy on behalf of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

• The renewable energy workforce doesn't only include wind and solar technicians. It also includes manufacturers, engineers, contractors, account managers, marketers, etc. There are many professions and career opportunities in this sector.
• Wind turbine technician is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country, second only to solar installer.
• There are wind farms in all 50 states. Most of the projects are in the West, Great Plains, Texas, and large parts of the Midwest. Manufacturing is concentrated in the Southwest and Midwest. We are expecting more manufacturing on the East Coast with the potential for offshore wind.
• Solar was one of the fastest-growing industries before COVID. Legislation can help rebuild our economy—there is a need to spur long-term growth for solar. In particular, policymakers could extend investment tax credits (ITC), streamline permitting for solar projects, and invest in national electric infrastructure.
• Solar and wind have the potential to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, address climate change, and lower costs for consumers.
• There is a demand for a qualified workforce in the clean energy industry, and right now the industry reports that it is hard to hire qualified people. Hiring is not going to improve unless people know of the opportunity and the challenges. More schools can be giving students exposure to the renewable energy sector. One way to do this is through partnerships with industry.
• It is also important to highlight that veterans bring some of the best talent to the wind industry.

 

Hillary Bright, Director of Special Projects, Building Clean (BlueGreen Alliance)

• We have a principle that we cannot choose between good jobs and a clean environment. We need to take actions now that protect people and the environment.
• Energy efficiency is one of the core components we need to address if we want to achieve a low carbon future—net-zero by 2050.
  • Nearly 2.25 million Americans are employed in energy efficiency. That is a conservative number because it only looks at people who work with Energy Star, and there are thousands of efficiency products that do not go through the Energy Star certification process.
  • In 2019, the efficiency sector produced the most new jobs. Demand for energy efficiency is going to continue to expand.
  • Nearly 60 percent of energy efficiency jobs are in construction, and 1 in 6 construction jobs are considered to be energy efficiency jobs.
  • Most people who have these jobs do not necessarily associate their job with a low-carbon economy. Part of the work ahead is to help workers realize that as an electrician, plumber, etc., they can be doing energy efficiency work.
• Energy efficiency jobs are often in small businesses, so they provide opportunities for entrepreneurship.
• When we think about jobs in energy efficiency, we have to think about both the manufacturing and the construction sides.
  • Manufacturing can include appliances, heating and cooling, windows, doors, sealants, etc.
  • If you combine manufacturing opportunities that exist now and have room for expansion as well as construction opportunities, we are talking about big job numbers.
• The goal is to reduce the 40 percent of emissions that come from the built environment while addressing consumer needs in a way that supports local economies.
• BlueGreen Alliance’s program Building Clean aims to support this goal.
  • The program's database includes 4,500 building products and allows people to look at their state and region to find American-made energy efficiency products.
  • It creates the opportunity for high bid preference when buying locally.
• The following additional work is needed:
  • Workforce training: A lot of the key energy efficiency skills are skills people use every day. Union apprenticeships and community colleges are already teaching these skills, but there is a need to expand education into new technology.
  • Construction is local, so the focus is to make manufacturing local as well. We can leverage Buy American policies.
• For the workforce in general, we need to make sure that, as we rebuild from COVID, we offer the best health and safety protection for workers.

 

Q&A

 

What is your outlook on a clean energy job recovery?

Simmons: As the economy comes back, we are going to see clean energy jobs come back, and probably faster than the economy as a whole. There is really good momentum. There will be challenges. In some energy efficiency jobs doing weatherization, where you go into someone's home, there is reticence, especially if you are in a high-risk group. Still, I have high hopes for clean energy jobs to come back faster because of momentum. People are not going to be paring back clean energy investments.

Belair: There is movement internationally to use the pandemic as an opportunity to consider substantial investment in clean energy. There is going to be a lot of opportunities for job creation in these sectors, so we need to create the workforce. We are working with energy efficiency organizations in Canada to do online training for workers in energy efficiency, so that workers are equipped with skills they require when there are investments made in building retrofits. We are working with Efficiency Canada to put in place a training hub.

James: The impact of COVID has been severe on the day-to-day operation of the solar and wind industries. But local authorities considered most major projects essential, so, while some of the planned work and suggested work was delayed due to COVID to follow CDC guidelines, the primary maintenance activities and work to keep the assets running was not slowed. Construction was slowed to an extent due to distancing to keep people safe, but it did not bring work to a complete halt. We are still seeing wind and solar being built.

Bright: It is hard to do some training online, like training new offshore wind technicians on how to work over the water. But we will overcome these challenges. Some states have requirements for clean energy goals, so work needs to go on. We need to make sure all workers are protected by the best and most up-to-date health and safety regulations.

 

Some of the most in-demand jobs today did not exist when we were in high school. What jobs are under the radar today, but might be indispensable 10 years from now?

Simmons: Integration of various energy technologies. As renewable technologies grow as a proportion of the grid, integration is going to be critical. Also, hydrogen has not been a part of the clean energy revolution, but there is a lot of excitement around the world. And data—there is so much data being produced, and we need to figure out how to use it efficiently.

Belair: There are a number of areas in Canada where we are looking to build supply chains. For example, for critical minerals in batteries. These are areas where we think there will be more economic activity in the coming years. We want to have the right workforce. We need to be able to communicate to young people that energy is not just science and technology, but also other domains where we need expertise.

James: We need to develop the workforce in IT, engineering, technology, AI, and machine learning.

Bright: We have heard the importance of the supply chain. We have seen the interruption during COVID. We are thinking about if there are alternatives to the critical minerals in the products we use today because we need to meet tremendous demand. Another area that I see developing is the recycling of a host of different commodities, including EV batteries. We have folks that have done recycling of batteries in the past, but lithium ion batteries are different. So, we need to provide training for these new skills and be able to produce in a circular way. Reuse opportunities are going to be key to meeting demand for materials.

 

Compiled by Anna McGinn