Capacity Building Energy Programs:Developing a Green Workforce

September 17, 2008

Wenona BenallyAmerican Indian Policy InstituteArizona State University

Green Collar Industries

Green Jobs tend to fall into 3 categories: Energy Efficiency —Residential, commercial and industrial retrofits, green building, green manufacturing Renewable Energy —Manufacturing & installation of small-scale renewable systems & productsAlternative transportation & fuels— Developing & expanding mass transit and freight rail

Solar Energy Systems

Residential Photovoltaics (PV) – generating electricity using sunlight

Residential Solar Thermal Systems – generating electricity from heating water, air or fluid

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) – generating electricity using mirrors and lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a thermal receiver

Job Creation in Solar PV & Water Heating Systems Industry

Solar PV and water heating systems jobs can be broken down into 2 categories:

– Manufacturing & Assembly – Manufacturing component parts and assembling finished panels or systems

– Installation & Maintenance – Installing systems and maintaining and provide regular maintenance

Solar PV & Water Heating Systems Manufacturing

Manufacturing a megawatt of solar photovoltaic panels will require nearly 6 full-time employees working for a year

Types of Manufacturing Jobs:

• Engineers• Designers

• Solar Electrician• Service Technician

Solar PV & Water Heating Systems Installation & Maintenance

Installing a megawatt of solar photovoltaic cells will support about four full-time workers a year

Types of Installation & Maintenance Jobs:

• Solar Electrician• Service Technician• Project Manager

• Roofers

Energy Efficient Industry

New Building – New efficient construction (also known as “green building”)

Retrofit – Energy efficiency retrofits on existing buildings

Job Creation in Energy Efficiency Industry

Jobs in Energy Efficiency fall into 4 broad categories:Manufacturing – Manufacturing energy efficiency products and low-waste systemsConstruction – Constructing “high performance buildings”Audit & Evaluation – Auditing energy use in existing buildings & evaluate servicesInstallation – Installing efficient lighting, heating systems, insulation, windows, and appliances

Energy Efficiency Building

Types of Energy Efficient Jobs:– Construction Workers (carpenters, laborers,

plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc.)– Sustainable Architectures– HVAC Technicians– Energy Auditors– Insulators– Building Inspectors

Education & Training

Arizona Solar Training Centers: Arizona State Environmental Technology Training Center, DAWN Southwest Workshops in Tucson, Solar InstituteArizona Community Colleges: Coconino Community College, Yavapai College, Chandler-Gilbert Community CollegeArizona Universities: ASU, NAU, U of ATribal Community Colleges: Crownpoint Institute Technology, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Oglala Lakota College, Oneida Nation SchoolCertification Programs: North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)

Other Resources

Native Workplace (NWP) – Develop an American Indian & Veteran workforce

for green industries– Promote Green Collar careers in Indian Country– Provide educational information regarding green

job growth in Indian country– Website: http://www.nativeworkplace.com/

Green Jobs Act of 2007

Title X of the Energy Independence and Security Act Authorizes $125 million per year to create an “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program”Offer job training programs in green sectors like energy efficient buildings and construction, renewable electricity, energy efficient vehicles, and moreTrain 35,000 workers in clean and green industriesSpecial focus on providing “green pathways out of poverty” for young adults, displaced workers, and veterans