On August 16, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) hosted a webinar on the challenges and opportunities in equitable solar workforce development, efforts to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the solar industry, and potential ways for solar employers and labor unions to work together to ensure quality jobs and a stable workforce.
SETO shared insights from its stakeholder engagement efforts and provided an update on workforce activities and funding, including the newly announced $10 million Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships funding opportunity. The webinar also featured presentations from speakers across DOE, the White House, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
View the webinar recording and download the slides.
Agenda
Time |
Title |
Presenter(s) |
1:00 PM |
Welcome |
Nicole Steele, Workforce and Equitable Access Program Manager, DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) |
1:05 PM |
Opening Remarks |
Jahi Wise, Special Assistant to the President for Climate Policy and Finance, White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy Betony Jones, Director, DOE Office of Energy Jobs Andrew Ridgeway, Division Director, Registered Apprenticeship and Policy, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship |
1:20 PM |
SETO Workforce Goals and Program Updates |
Nicole Steele, Workforce and Equitable Access Program Manager, DOE SETO Sarah Wilder, Workforce Program Analyst, DOE SETO Tomiwa Olufolabi, Fellow, DOE SETO Andrew Graves, Technology Manager, DOE SETO |
1:35 PM |
Solar Industry Update: Workforce Needs and DEIA Efforts |
Erika Symmonds, Vice President, Workforce and Equity, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) |
1:55 PM |
Benefits of Working with Labor Unions and How to Get Started |
Amy Peterson, Senior Advisor, Industry Relations, DOE Loan Programs Office Steve Crum, International Representative, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Fourth District Jon Rosenberger, Business Development Representative, IBEW |
2:25 PM |
Conclusion |
Nicole Steele, Workforce and Equitable Access Program Manager, DOE SETO |
Additional Information
• Explore SETO’s work in solar workforce development.
• Learn more about the Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships funding opportunity.
• View more upcoming SETO events and webinars.
• Subscribe to the SETO newsletter.