Clients

Pv Magazine-Solar workforce development can help win independence from systemic racism

Uneven playing field

“Employers do background checks — and no one is hiring an ex-felon. That alone is enough to discourage someone from applying to jobs,” said Wells, who had to start his solar career at temp agencies or “mom and pop” installers because “nine times out of ten they don’t screen — but nine times out of ten they don’t pay either — or you don’t have benefits.”

Wells had to go through temp agencies — “getting hired through the temp agency and working at the same company that denied you — while getting paid $14 per hour instead of $20 per hour.”

Installing solar safely

When Colorado issued the state’s stay-at-home order in early April, Jeff Danelek wondered if his scheduled solar installation with GRID Colorado would be delayed indefinitely. 

Jeff, a part-time art teacher with Denver Public Schools, and his wife Carol live in Lakewood, Colorado with their two dogs, Lulu and Charlie. Their bills can get up to $170-$180 a month, especially in the wintertime, and additional employment disruption from the pandemic has put “quite a strain on our budget.” 

A Wood Mackenzie Business - ‘We Too Must Improve’: Clean Energy Industry Looks Into Mirror on Racial Inequity

U.S. clean-energy organizations joined nationwide expressions of grief and anger this week following the recent killings of black Americans including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) lamented continuing racial inequities in the U.S., suggesting they would redouble efforts on diversifying the renewables workforce and consider how their industries can stand against racial injustice.