Page 25 - SKILLS Workforce Development Guide 2021

Manor, agrees. When working in solar, he says, “You are making a difference in this world. Anyone can get a job behind a desk or working in a warehouse. When you are working in the solar industry, the outcome of your work is that you are making a difference in the fight against climate change. We all need to contribute, and in our business, anyone can contribute, whether you
are a financial wiz, salesperson, have an advanced degree in sustainability, or just like working on a roof.”
That variety of skills that the clean energy sector needs sets it apart from other industries. Take Dandelion Energy, in Peekskill. They market geothermal heating and cooling systems that
use the earth’s natural temperature regulation to keep your house comfortable. “The work is very unique as it encompasses multidisciplinary roles,” says Hagit Farago, the company’s director of talent acquisition. “We
have people who work in the field
and install our systems — like HVAC installers, drillers, heavy equipment operators — and then we have software engineers, finance, sales, marketing, and product folks.”
Like a lot of companies that rely on skilled labor, Dandelion is faced with
a shortage of workers. “There are objectively not enough HVAC installers, licensed plumbers, licensed electricians, and maybe the hardest of all, sonic drillers. I would love to see more people
explore those roles and get themselves into a very high in-demand field with fantastic salaries and career path,”
says Farago, adding that “we have a
lot of openings on our website,” mostly for HVAC service techs and drillers. “Because of climate change, we’ll
see an increase in demand for these roles,” she predicts. “That demand
will continue to soar, and it is hard to imagine a day in our future where these jobs will become obsolete.”
“When you are
working in the
solar industry, the
outcome of your
work is that you are
making a difference
in the fight against
climate change.”
—Rand Manasse
Chief Operating Officer, Sunrise Solar Solutions
TRAINING IS AVAILABLE
For workers looking for a career change, educational cooperative BOCES offers a three-month HVAC program
to gain basic knowledge. Dandelion
will hire and train graduates of such
programs, and similar opportunities
exist in solar. “There are many courses offered at local schools if that is the course that a person wants to pursue.
I know that Westchester Community College and Pace offer some excellent programs,” Manasse says. “On the other hand, if school is not your thing and you have roof work experience, apply for a job on our website.”
The greatest opportunities, he says, are “for those just starting out. Whether you have a new degree in renewable energy or sustainability from one of the local colleges and you want to help design and develop a new solar project, or you do not have a degree and just want a new career installing solar panels on residential or commercial roofs, we always have job openings and look for candidates that have the desire to be successful, a good work ethic, and are willing to learn.”
Prospects can also team up with
firms like Soulful Synergy. They have partnered with Willdan Group, an international engineering and energy solutions firm that helps businesses become more energy efficient and sustainable. Together, they have developed the Willdan Clean Energy Academy, funded by a $250,000
grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Its Small Commercial Energy Auditing Training (SCEAT) course is a free, 60-hour course that prepares students for jobs in clean energy.
The course “attracts people who
want to do something positive, but often don’t know what this is. We love that,” says Antuan Cannon, deputy program manager for Willdan Group. Participants in the course, he says, come from all walks of life, “from Yale to jail, literally. We are looking for motivated, accountable people. Our job is to help show them
the roadmap.” And that map is filled
with promise; “We now have more job openings than people,” Cannon says.
“Students see the opportunity themselves,” says Alejandro Alvarez, co-founder of Soulful Synergy. “This is a new industry where we can discover and expand on people’s superhero powers to do impactful work.”
What’sHot.What’sNext.What’sNeeded. SKILLS 23
© Courtesy of Dandelion Energy