For Immediate Release
Media contact:
Carole Bernard, VP of Communications at GRID Alternatives, cbernard@gridalternatives.org, 443-538-1565
Oakland, California: The solar industry has been growing rapidly for years, and the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 will lead to a transformative expansion of the clean energy sector in 2024 and beyond. Some reports suggest that the industry could employ more than one million Americans by 2030. According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) 2022 National Solar Job Census, as of December 2022, there were 263,883 solar workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. This represents an increase of 8,846 jobs, or 3.5% growth since 2021. To ensure a just transition to clean energy, it is critical that the solar industry is diversified and representative of the communities that could benefit the most from clean energy solutions.
As one of the nation’s largest clean energy nonprofits, GRID Alternatives builds community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. GRID is proud to be part of the solution driving sustainable solar industry job growth by providing workforce development and training opportunities to diverse communities throughout the United States.
Diversifying the solar workforce with properly trained and highly qualified employees is paramount to a just transition to clean energy. In collaboration with RE+ Events, GRID and the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) are hosting the Clean Energy Job Fair on Wednesday, September 13th from 11am-2pm PST, in conjunction with the 2023 RE+ Conference in Las Vegas, NV. The job fair is free to all job seekers and will provide a dedicated space for clean energy companies, industry employers, and other stakeholders to engage and connect.
Attendees will learn about the following types of clean energy jobs and career opportunities: Account Manager Sales Manager Procurement Analyst Accountant Finance Manager Project Scheduler HR Associate Project Manager Logistics Coordinator Mechanical Engineer CAD Drafter Engineer Analyst
This is a national event, with registration open to any employer looking to hire in the U.S. The RE+ conference is the largest and most comprehensive clean energy trade show in North America. It brings together an extensive alliance of renewable energy leaders for multiple days of programming and networking opportunities to advance the clean energy sector. GRID and WRISE are grateful to GigaWatt job fair sponsor Powin Energy for supporting our efforts.
Premiere employers participating in the job fair: SMA America, Arevon Energy, Longi, Solis Inverters, and Powin Energy
Other participating employers in the job fair: SEIA, One Energy Renewable, Clean Power, FPL (A NextEra Energy Company), Nova Clean Energy (A BEC Subsidiary), National Grid Renewables, Wartsila, RES, Solar Landscape, PG Renewables, EDF Renewables, Fisher Associates, Solve Energy, and Aztec TYPSA
“GRID is proud to partner on this event with WRISE,” said Adewale Ogunbadejo, GRID’s Vice President of Workforce Development. “Increasing the clean energy workforce in a way that addresses equity is incredibly important as we work to bring renewable energy solutions to the communities we serve. This job fair provides the chance for both employers and job seekers to learn, connect, and engage about career opportunities as the sector works to expand and strengthen the workforce and our local economies.”
“This is a critical time in our industry and WRISE is incredibly excited to be working with GRID again for the job fair at RE+,” said WRISE Executive Director Doseke Akporiaye. “We are dedicated to recruiting diverse talent into the industry, retaining the incredible talent we have, and advancing women and marginalized genders within the industry. This job fair is a key way to push forward those goals and strengthen our clean energy workforce.”
About GRID Alternatives
Renewable energy can drive economic growth and environmental benefits in communities most impacted by underemployment, pollution and climate change. GRID Alternatives is a leader in helping economic and environmental justice communities get clean, affordable renewable energy, transportation, and job training and placement. Internationally, our energy access work is lighting up off-grid communities in Nepal, Nicaragua, and Mexico. GRID envisions a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone.
About WRISE
Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), formerly called Women of Wind Energy (WoWE), was founded in 2005 and accelerates the transition to a sustainable and equitable energy future by igniting the collective power of community. WRISE has local chapters across the US and Canada; national programming that includes the annual luncheon, Leadership Forum, fellowships, the Speakers Bureau and webinar series; and a growing grassroots network of more than 15,000 participants. The organization is supported through hundreds of volunteer hours and the generous contributions of individuals as well as corporate partners. www.wrisenergy.org
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