The world has been racing toward renewable energy sources as the threat of climate change is quickly becoming evident in every corner of the globe. Here in New England, efforts to combat climate change have been steadily increasing with the adoption of innovative laws and regulations, forward-thinking budgets, and aggressive renewable energy plans to increase our progress toward clean alternatives. But now a new imperative to create diversity in clean energy is emerging.
As the world continues barreling toward climate solutions, some have noted that the industry itself is far less diverse than one would expect at this stage of its maturity; leaving behind key voices and endangering further innovation. Reuters brought the issue to light last year in a report demonstrating that the clean energy space is dominated by white men, and has ostracized women and people of color.
The Problem at a Glance
An analysis by BW Research Partnership, found that over 60% of those currently working in the industry are white, only 8% of workers are Black, and Latinos only held 17% of clean energy positions. On the other hand, the total American labor force statistics for 16 years and older include 77.5% were white, 12.3% were Black or African American, and 18% were Hispanic or Latino in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Women only make up 27% of the clean energy industry despite making up almost half of all laborers in the United States.
In a recent report issued by E2 called “Help Wanted: Diversity in Clean Energy” the authors discuss diversity as an economic imperative “…as we rebuild the U.S. economy in the wake of COVID-19, we have a chance to do it in ways that create new opportunities for people of color. As Congress and state lawmakers focus on clean energy’s role in the recovery, they should focus as well on rebuilding the economy more equitably.”
Despite these numbers, the demand and interest exist for people of color to work climate-related jobs, given that the types of positions vary so widely from operations to material acquisition, to supervisors and customer service, leaving many to believe that the process of hiring is problematic in recruiting and encouraging interest in clean energy careers.
Large-scale Movements
Several groups are now dedicated solely to uplifting black and brown employees in the clean energy sector. Two prominent groups for Black energy workers include Black Owners of Solar Services, or BOSS, and the American Association of Black in Energy, not to mention general support groups like Energy Efficiency for All.
One significant move toward ensuring a more inclusive future is President Joe Biden’s Justice40 Initiative signed within weeks of him taking office. With Justice40, the President mandated a macro-level government policy stating that at least 40% of any federal investment in climate or clean energy goes to disadvantaged communities. This move, however, does not cover an inclusive workforce, which may be necessary to ensure systemic change and leaves municipalities to take on this task themselves.
Massachusetts Clean Energy Inclusivity
Massachusetts is quickly becoming a model for the rest of the country in creating direct lines for people of color to explore careers in the clean energy sector. Of particular note is a program created by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, or CEC, has expanded to welcome previously excluded individuals.
CEC matched students with clean energy companies and mandated that 60 internships be made available to students from cities with high rates of underserved communities and economic hardship. Additionally, CEC has created a Targeted Internship Program that specifically recruits and mentors “interns of color and students from other underrepresented backgrounds.”
This program has emerged just in time for the substantial Cape Wind off-shore renewable energy project as well as major state-funded investments in expanding the wind industry. This massive shift toward clean energy creates a critical need that the Commonwealth approach this undertaking as inclusively as possible.