German Jamison: Why It’s Still Important to Talk About Diversity in the Renewables Industry

They say diversity is the spice of life. And yet television shows, universities, the tech industry and others continue to struggle with how to fairly represent women and minority groups -- and the renewable energy industry is no exception.

According to the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA) global renewable energy employment, not including large-scale hydropower, reached 8.3 million in 2016. Solar energy jobs totalled 3.7 million last year, up 15 percent over 2015, and wind energy jobs totalled 1.2 million, up 7 percent over 2015.

Despite this growth, women and ethnic groups still face challenges in breaking through the renewable energy employment glass ceiling -- although industry leaders are attempting to resolve this problem. And why shouldn't the sustainable energy sector lead on diversity?

Today, female representation within the renewable energy sector is small. In OECD nations, it’s estimated only 20 percent of those employed are women. A majority work in sales and administration, followed by engineering and technical departments. Solar PV is the largest renewables sector representing female workers, followed by solar heating and cooling, wind energy, biomass and biofuel.

In the U.S. solar industry specifically, women make up 28 percent of the workforce, and relatively few hold leadership positions. Minority groups are also underrepresented in the cleantech workforce.

Only 6.6 percent of solar workers in 2016 were African American, according to The Solar Foundation. For comparison, African Americans comprise 13.3 percent of the U.S. population, according to the 2016 census. Latinos and Asian Americans fare much better, at 17.2 percent and 9.1 percent working in the U.S. solar industry, respectively. Census data finds these minority groups make up 17.8 and 5.7 percent of the U.S. population, respectively.

Solar isn’t the only industry relevant to the renewables sector, however. In the U.S. wind industry, 8 percent are African American and 32 percent are women, which is below national workforce averages, according to the Department of Energy.

An Ernst & Young survey found that women represented only 5 percent of board executives and 16 percent of board members across the global power and utilities sector in 2015. Over three years, the number of women on boards has only increased by 1 percent.

These low employment figures for women and minorities are also visible in environmental organizations.

A 2014 University of Michigan report found that males made up 70 percent of boards and chairs of environmental groups. White females were also more likely to be promoted to boards, compared to minority men and women. Just 12 percent of environmental organizations have ethnic minorities in leadership positions, while only 4 percent are on boards.

The report condemns environmental groups for not seeking to create diverse workplaces. Traditional economic sectors, including business, finance and even sports have done better.

But alliances have been forming to support a cultural shift within the renewable energy workforce.

Kristen Graf, of Women of Wind Energy (WoWE), told Greentech Media, the future of the wind industry may hinge on increased workplace diversity. Graf said that having more women employed in the wind power workforce can bring new and unique perspectives to the business, including in finance and engineering. To start looking beyond wind, WoWE, rebranded themselves as Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) earlier this year. Graf still serves as executive director.

WRISE has been instrumental in raising awareness and supporting the need for further training of women within the industry. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) supports educational and training opportunities for women, thanks to scholarships, to entice more females into wind power.

Solar companies have also tried to address the concerns of a lack of ethnic diversity in the industry. SolarCity has gone out to various job fairs targeting minority groups to increase their talent base.

This increased engagement has helped to further diversity among women and racial groups in renewable energy. In the U.S. wind and solar sectors, workforce representation is on the rise. This slow shift is aligned with the current demographic change happening as the U.S. population, which in turn should be positive for business.

As many groups are teaming to improve workplace diversity within the cleantech sector, small gains are also occurring within environmental organizations. In 2015, Aaron Mair become the first African American elected as Sierra Club President. Mair has helped in many campaigns, including one supported by the Sierra Club to clean up the Hudson River. It eventually led to a settlement between General Electric and the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up toxic sediments in the Upper Hudson River.

However, more work needs to be done as women and minority group work towards a diversified labor pool, including more education, collaboration, and awareness.

Grist recently suggests that in a period where the U.S. Government is cutting back on environmental protection, there needs to make further connections between grassroots activities (many of them led by women or of color) and big environmental groups. The article points to a study from organization Green 2.0 which surveyed top environmental non-governmental organizations suggested nearly 75 percent employed are white, while 15 percent are of color. The Green 2.0 also said only 40 percent organizations have a diversity plan ready.

Van Jones, author of The Green Collar Economy said it best. “To change our laws, and culture, the green movement must attract and include the majority all people, not just the majority of affluent people.” That includes renewable energy companies and advocates.