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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
US green skills in short supply
10/8/2022
6 min read
The US is struggling to keep up with demand for green jobs, despite the growing opportunities for transfer from the oil and gas industry and other sectors. There is also an issue around maintaining skills diversity, reports Stephenie Overman in Washington DC.
The shortage of skilled workers in the US renewable energy industry is a straightforward economics issue, according to green power industry consultant Bob Parkins. ‘Too much demand and too little supply,’ he says.
Indeed, the Inflation Reduction Act, the scaled down version of the Build Back Better Act, looks set to boost renewable energy in the US. The new bill’s projected spending of $370bn over 10 years will see at least $50bn in tax incentives to boost domestic clean energy manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical mineral processing. If passed (which seems to be imminent this week), the bill should result in domestic energy production and manufacturing investment that could reduce carbon emissions about 40% by 2030.
However, California-based Parkins warns that finance is only part of the equation. The act’s ‘ideals are a little out of touch with reality’, he says, because the US lacks a key economic ingredient needed to rehaul its infrastructure.
‘Labour is part of the [US renewable energy] supply chain… and that link is weak.’ – Bob Parkins, Consultant