Help wanted: Clean energy workforce needed

Apr. 26—There are practically "help wanted" signs hanging from solar panels and wind turbines.

Our cover story this week is about how renewable energy companies need more workers for the green energy transition that New Mexico is striving to make.

Several leaders of renewable energy companies said they are struggling to find workers. There is a demand for different types of workers, who require different levels of training.

For example, one executive said he has been able to find installers but he is struggling to find engineers and project managers who require more advanced degrees.

However, getting trained so you can get a foot in the door in the industry doesn't take years in academia. We talked to one man who wanted to become a solar installer, so he took a trade class at Central New Mexico Community College. It turns out, he said, he didn't need to take the course to get his first job but the experience has opened more doors for him.

To help grow the workforce, lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session created the Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Fund.

New Mexico is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to address the matter. Local and state governments have provided funding for workforce development and to companies to help spur growth in the green economy sector. Colleges and universities are working to create curriculum needed to train students for clean energy jobs.

On Friday, it was apparent that many more workers are going to be needed in New Mexico. A member of the president's Cabinet visited the state and attended public events at two large clean energy companies.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm joined members of the state's congressional delegation and other area leaders to recognize the groundbreaking of a solar energy project and the ribbon-cutting of a wind-powered manufacturing plant.

First, Granholm visited Array Technologies Inc. in Albuquerque for a groundbreaking at a planned $50 million facility. Array is a global leader in utility-scale, solar-tracking technology that can maximize efficiency by moving the solar panels to be at the best angle to harness the sun's energy. The company is headquartered in Albuquerque and has been advancing solar technology for more than 30 years.

Once completed, Array officials have said the new facility will allow the company to retain about 250 local employees and hire an additional 50 or so for jobs that start at about $30 an hour.

Then, Granholm went to Belen for the ribbon-cutting at the Arcosa Wind Towers manufacturing line. That's the same facility that nine months ago drew President Joe Biden, who spoke in favor of the project.

That facility required a $314 million investment and will bring 250 jobs to the region, according to Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

Those are just two examples of several large-scale renewable energy utility projects throughout the state. So if you're looking for a job in an emerging field, you have some options.