Page 34 - Skills - 2024

CHOOSING A CAREER
State Resources for Clean-Energy Careers
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a key information source for clean- energy jobs. It provides a variety of paid Clean Energy Internships, plus Climate Justice Fellowships aimed at individuals from underserved communities. NYSERDA’s On-the-Job-Training for Energy Efficiency & Clean Technology programs partially reimburse businesses for a new employee’s salary. The NYSERDA website at nyserda. ny.gov also features career maps and a directory of free online clean-energy training.
Another useful source is the New York State Department of Labor’s “Green Topics” dashboard at dol.ny.gov/exploring-occupations-green-topic. It features 72 subjects, covering more than 300 occupations, with details on nearly two dozen clean-energy careers.
Salaries in the field can vary widely according to skills and experience. According to the website ZipRecruiter, as of March 2024, statewide pay in the renewable-energy sector generally ranges from about $44,000 up to nearly $130,000, with average annual pay of about $61,000.
A Leading-Edge Company
Since its founding in 2015, Armonk-based Brightcore Energy has been an innovator in the field. “We’re basically a renewable-energy solutions partner for the commercial market,” says Dave Mancari, Brightcore’s vice president
of human resources. Forbes named the company one of America’s Best Startup Employers for 2024, and it made Inc. Magazine’s list of Best Workplaces for 2023. Brightcore’s specialties include solar installations and solar canopies for businesses and municipalities, as well as engineering and audits of LED lighting, Mancari says. “For instance, we’ve been working at retrofitting some New York City schools and police precincts for more energy efficiency.” The company also recently launched a project at Bard College. “We’re designing, engineering and doing the drilling to install geothermal heating and cooling at the library,” Mancari adds.
Clean-energy jobs, such as control specialist and auditor for lighting controls, “can be great careers that pay well with a basic education,” he notes. “And with some positions, such as on the geothermal side, you could earn up to six figures.”
Mancari adds: “What’s exciting about this industry is that we’re all learning together. Even if somebody might not have a college degree, if you’re a good electrician or technical person, or if you have a propensity to learn, there’s likely some kind of job for you.”
32 2024 SKILLS What’s Hot. What’s Next. What’s Needed.
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Some Key Westchester Employers
• Brightcore Energy
• Dandelion Energy
• Quest Solar
• Sunrise Solar Solutions
• Sustainable Westchester