Page 23 - 2020 Annual Impact Report

Energy: WDI Works to Clarify
the “Mystique” of Clean/Green/
Renewable Energy Jobs
The role of WDI’s Energy and and Climate Program is to to track energy policy sector trends and and 2020 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 22
That said there remains some misconceptions/misinformation about clean energy address employer needs we think
it’s worthwhile to take a a a a a a a closer look at at at existing occupations and skill sets that are closely aligned with those in in clean number of possible programs that are not clean clean energy energy specific but could potentially solve clean clean energy energy workforce concerns emerging technologies in in terms of impact to the the workforce and then take action around that that workforce impact so that that New Yorkers can capitalize on this growing sector During this past year the the energy sector like many others was negatively impacted by COVID-19 The good news however is is that it appears this impact was temporary Pre-COVID-19 jobs in in clean energy were growing at at a a a a a a a a a a faster rate than overall job job growth in in NY and and there is still a a a a a a a a a a a significant pipeline of of projects and and work that are are being restarted There are are a a a a a a a number of of factors driving growth in in in this sector:
• Governor Andrew Cuomo and and the NYS Senate and and Assembly continue to to increase commitments for moving NY to to predominantly renewables The Climate Leadership and Community Protection
Act (CLCPA) sets clear goals and and timeframes around this move • The cost of renewables has come down significantly in recent years • Strong public support for the environment • Improved understanding that the sector holds potential to to create social justice and equity in the jobs that are created • Improved understanding that the sector holds promise for a a a a host of good paying jobs We believe the clean energy sector has potential to to play a a a a a a significant role in in NY’s economic recovery An important area of work for us this past year revolved around research and dissemination of information about the sector’s potential We believe that moving NY’s energy production to predominantly cleaner sources is is not as as much of of a a a a a stretch as as is is often depicted A A DIVE INTO SKILLS REQUIRED BY CLEAN ENERGY JOBS
Employers are reporting difficulty finding a a a a a a qualified workforce in fin in in clean energy energy energy When job reports associated with clean energy energy energy (solar wind energy energy energy storage etc ) are are compared there emerges some variations but also a a a a a a a a a a clear picture of of commonalities around needs Across each of of of the the subsectors there is a a a a a a common group of of top skills and/or occupations in in in demand that include the following:
• Mechanical Trades with renewable energy experience and training
• Sales Bidding Estimating
• Electrical Engineers
• Project Project Developers or Project Project Development Skills
• Project Management • Finance Skills
While training
institutions are busy developing programs to energy It’s easier to to upgrade or add on on certifications than to to start from scratch In other words there are New Yorkers with the the the required skills already in in many cases So why are employers having such difficulty? We believe part of the problem lies with missed connections or conversations about the crosswalk from current training/occupations
to those of clean energy and the incremental training
that is required WDI has been examining outcomes from the programs we have facilitated and noticed a a a a a a a a