PSE&G, the largest electric and gas utility in New Jersey, has published a whitepaper on its Clean Energy Jobs (CEJ) Program. The paper, titled “Delivering Energy Efficiency Jobs to Underserved Communities,” addresses the growing need for green skills, employee diversity in the energy sector, and PSE&G’s community-based recruitment approach.
The paper was presented by Waltasia Mansano, manager of PSE&G’s Clean Energy Jobs program, on August 5 at the 2024 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings in Pacific Grove, California.
Launched in 2020 in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and over 40 community advocates, the CEJ Program aims to create a more inclusive clean energy workforce. Its primary focus areas include underserved community-based recruitment, training and supportive services, and promotion of hiring and supplier diversity.
Since its inception, the program has achieved significant milestones:
- Over 2,500 people placed into jobs.
- More than 90 participants from underserved communities graduated from its On-the-Job Training (OJT) initiative.
- Over 100 businesses received minority-, woman-, or veteran-owned business enterprises (MWVBE) certification.
- More than 800 clean energy employees trained and upskilled for long-term careers.
Carlos A. Medina, president and CEO of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ), emphasized their collaboration's impact: “Our collaboration with PSE&G has been important for advancing economic growth and diversity in clean energy.”
Waltasia Mansano highlighted the success attributed to public-private partnerships: “The community and state support for this program has been critical.”
The CEJ Program has earned multiple awards since 2020 including a DEI Impact Awards-Partnership in 2023. Karen Reif, vice president of Renewables and Energy Solutions at PSE&G said: “Our Clean Energy Jobs Program is helping to set a gold standard for workforce development in New Jersey.”
A LinkedIn analysis showed that job postings requiring green skills nearly doubled from 12.3% to 22.4% between 2022 to 2023. Women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce related to energy sectors; other minorities such as Latinx, Blacks, and American Indians/Alaska Natives also represent small shares.
Tehella Giddens shared her experience after graduating from the OJT Program: "This whole experience made me realize that I am more qualified than I thought."
Alexander Obregon also reflected positively on his transition through the program: "It took me from DoorDash to HVAC."
The CEJ Program's hiring data highlights significant progress compared to state averages:
- Female workers accounted for 33% of hires.
- Black or African American workers comprised 21% of hires.
- Latino/Hispanic workers made up about 20% of hires.
The ACEEE Summer Study convened professionals globally to discuss technologies necessary for equitable decarbonization amidst climate urgency. For further details on downloading PSE&G’s whitepaper or learning about their Clean Energy Program visit their website.
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