This coming week at our 5th Annual Green Jobs Forum, Spencer Schecht, co-owner of Green Drinks DC, will be running a workshop entitled “Fear is Your Copilot: Networking in Washington DC”.
We wanted to take the time to catch up with Spencer and hear about his experience as an early-career climate and energy professional in the DC area, and his tips and suggestions for clean energy jobseekers.
Leaders in Energy will be holding its 5th annual Green Jobs Forum on the topic of “Growing a Regional Clean Economy” at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) on August 16th, from 5-9 pm. Pizza and beverages will be served.
As the demand for renewable energy continues to increase, the industry is looking to recruit high-caliber candidates to drive green energy business forward. For example, according to the “2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report” published by the U.S. Department of Energy,the solar workforce increased by 25% in 2016, while wind employment increased by 32%. “Now Hiring: The Growth of America’s Clean Energy & Sustainability Jobs”, by the Environmental Defense Fund provides examples of jobs spanning energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, natural resources conservation and environmental education.
Individuals looking to enter these professions in the clean energy and sustainability sectors need to demonstrate competency in communication, an active interest in green energy, and a natural aptitude for all things technical. For those hoping to pursue leadership roles, an energy leader should be able to manage geographically diverse teams, coordinate complex technical projects and possess the ability to identify and run with new ideas.
In my previous post I introduced the concept of Community Choice Energy (CCE) business model and how cities and local governments in California are gaining momentum in leading the way towards sustainable energy transition at the local level.
There is definitely an interesting situation. Contrary to what the federal government is doing, California is moving forward with an increasing amount of renewable energy added to its portfolio standard, and doubling its energy efficiency goals. According to data collected by Bloomberg, a significant part of the U.S. growth can be tracked to California laws promoting clean energy. Indeed, ‘California clean energy companies reported annual revenue growth of 26 percent and they turned more revenue into profit with an average gross margin of 46 percent’.
In this suitable window, CCE model is gaining momentum by creating a domino effect. With eight operational CCEs, eight emerging CCEs, and more than twenty cities and counties currently exploring this opportunity, the CCE model is booming all around California.
How does someone get a job in the solar energy industry? 90% of employers in the Mid-Atlantic area find it either somewhat or very difficult to hire qualified individuals, according to The Solar Foundation’s 2017 Solar Jobs Census. And solar jobs pay well; an installer job pays on average $20 an hour. So how do we bridge the gap between inexperience and jobs?
The answer – job training.
Leaders in Energy conducted a 5-session Green Career Momentum (GCM), from May 17-June 21, 2018, to help those seeking to land or create their dream green job. At each session, speakers in different sectors, e.g., clean energy, circular economy, natural resources, etc. provided their expertise for participants to learn about opportunities in the green economy. The sessions included interactive exercises to practice skills and opportunities for networking. Dr. Beth Offenbacker, Principle, Waterford Inc, and Director for Training and Development, Leaders in Energy, was the instructor.
This article provides highlights from the Green Career Momentum session titled “Getting in the Door: Executive Communications, Resumes, and Cover Letter.” Skills were practiced during the session on techniques to develop rapport for successful interviewing. The session took place virtually on May 31, 2018.
On May 10th, the topic was “The Green Economy: Job and Career Trends You Need to Know About.” The speaker was Norman Christopher, Executive Director, Office of Sustainability Practices, Grand Valley State University and the author of the book Sustainability Demystified! was the speaker. The skill was “Identifying Energy Sustainability Jobs in the new Economy.” The Green Economy focus area was clean energy, energy efficiency, and the electric grid.
On Thursday, June 14th, Leaders in Energy held the fourth Green Career Momentum (GCM) event at Green America. The GRM series has been held to assist Leaders in Energy members in find or create a dream green job. Each session has a specialized topic, speakers, skill, and green economy focus area.
By Janine Finnell, Executive Director, Leaders in Energy On Friday, June 8th, 2018, green leaders from across the Washington Metro region will explore how to...
Leaders in Energy conducted its 4th annual Green Jobs Forum and Green Career Workshop on August 17, 2017. The sold-out event, with over 100 people participating, was held at the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) headquarters in Washington, DC.