2021 has been a record year for solar installations and with the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, these numbers are expected to increase astronomically. A recent report from Solar Energy Industries Association (ESIA) and Mackenzie Wood predicts that solar installations will grow from 129 GW to 336 GW over the next five years. With this growing demand comes the need for a skilled solar workforce, but what steps will the solar industry take to ensure these jobs are diverse, equitable, and ultimately available to everyone?
Solar jobs grew 9% nationally from 2020 to 2021. But the Interstate Renewable Energy Councilit is (I RECORD) National Solar Jobs Census uncovered alarming statistics. For starters, the census found that women made up just under 30% of the solar workforce in 2021. Unfortunately, the lack of diversity didn’t stop there. Black employees made up just 8% of the solar labor pool, Hispanic workers 20%, and Asian workers just 9%. The need for a diverse workforce has many benefits, including unique perspectives, experiences and ideas. It is the responsibility of solar companies across the United States to bring this ideal workforce to life.
As the oldest solar company in the United States, SunPower takes this role seriously. In September 2021, we announced our 25×25 gait, a series of commitments to expand access to renewable energy to marginalized communities. These commitments include three key objectives, including a plan to diversify the solar workforce:
- Ensure industry fairness: 25% of the dealers, contractors and subcontractors that SunPower works with are owned by women and people of color.
- Expand access for customers: 25% of SunPower’s new US residential customers in 2025 are people living in disadvantaged communities.
- Increase workforce diversity: 40% of SunPower’s workforce is represented by women; 25% of our workforce is represented by Blacks and Hispanics/Latinx.
Now, a year after our engagement, we have made some progress. SunPower actively works with organizations to help us achieve our goals. More specifically, we have aligned ourselves with McKinsey & Company, National Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Alternatives to the network and International solar energy (UTE) to help us engage, retain and train more women to solar energy businesses.
To kick off this particular initiative, we have awarded $100,000 to Grid Alternatives and Solar Energy International through the SunPower Foundation to support solar training programs for women. The hope is that more women will have access to jobs in the field, such as solar installation or electrical work. SunPower also participated in a job fair organized by GRID Alternatives and Women in Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) during RE+ to get in front of new candidates.
Starting next month, a leadership development pilot program with McKinsey & Company is starting for women and minorities in leadership positions.
At SunPower, we believe the benefits of solar power should be available to everyone. We continuously work to build diversity, equity and inclusion into our company’s DNA, because only together can we change the way our world is powered.