What is the Energy Efficiency Workforce Sector Strategy?
|
A Sector Strategy is a program that promotes regional partnerships of employers, educators, workforce developers and other stakeholders to address the skills needs of critical industries in a region. It results in customized solutions to the workforce needs of employers in the industry, and is a proven mechanism for meeting the needs of workers for good jobs and the needs of employers for skilled workers.
The goals of the Energy Efficiency Workforce Sector strategy are two-pronged:
From the Program Implementation Plan: “California wants to expeditiously increase statewide workforce development and training relying on strategically coordinated planning and administration to deliver energy efficiency and demand side energy management in the public and private sectors. This effort will require concerted planning among secondary and post-secondary educational leaders, technical and professional organizations, state agencies, economic and labor development organizations, utilities, construction and manufacturing businesses that deliver energy management and efficiency solutions.” |
The need?
|
California's strategic plan calls for massive reductions in gas and electricity demand through implementation of efficiency measures; a trained workforce is needed to design, construct, install, operate, and maintain the new energy efficient grid, from power plant to wall outlet.
California's public utilities are facing a massive shift in labor pool experience as older workers retire; new workers are required to fill existing jobs and new jobs that are created through deployment of renewable energy sources. Consistency in training on codes and standards in the education and trade training systems is needed to ensure that projects deliver the energy efficiency goals promised. Suppliers benefit from training and education in targeted finance, marketing, and sales disciplines to create new tools for selling energy efficiency products and services to consuming companies. |
What outcomes?
|
In the supplier community, effective finance, marketing, and sales programs will lead to an increase in the number of energy efficiency programs being deployed, driving demand for workers to implement them.
In the education and training community, a consistently and better trained workforce will lead to better outcomes in the deployment of energy efficiency projects; better outcomes will have an accelerating effect on the ability of suppliers to sell, leading to a greater demand for a trained workforce. Successfully deployed energy efficiency programs will accelerate public utilities' goal of carbon reduction through reduced demand and renewable supply. |
How is the Energy Efficiency Workforce Sector Strategy being implemented?
|
Drivers, goals, and parameters of the Sector Strategy are clearly defined.
A foundation of research has been laid:
Leadership teams made up of key stakeholders from Industry, Education, Labor, Government, and Workforce Intermediaries have been convened and are providing input and guidance on key initiatives to achieve goals. Multi-phased execution, with a constant feedback loop for continuous improvement. |