Clean Energy Workforce Diversity: Access, Inclusion and Belonging

The growing clean energy sector is creating significant job opportunities across the nation. Does that mean all individuals will have equal access to these opportunities, and will these opportunities result in a sense of acceptance and belonging in the workplace? Our roundtable will focus on strategies for building an equitable economy and clean energy workforce.  

Market evolution, technological innovation, and policies focused on climate action have strengthened economic opportunities in the U.S. energy sector and driven workforce development. However, the clean energy labor pool needs more diversity, and vulnerable, marginalized communities face challenges accessing clean energy jobs and inclusion in decision-making processes. 

This roundtable will discuss how the transition to clean energy can create equitable economic opportunities that value diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging. 

Moderator and Panelists

Moderator: Vidhisha Moopnar – Project Analyst, New Buildings Institute - Vidhisha supports the  Advanced Water Heating Initiative and the GridOptimal Building Initiative at NBI. She assists with technical research, policy analysis, data analysis, and data visualization and aids project initiatives by planning, creating roadmaps, interacting with stakeholders, and helping colleagues with technical convenings, memos, and presentations.

Monica Guevara – Program Manager of Economic Inclusion, Emerald Cities Collaborative – Monica Guevara is the Economic Inclusion Program Manager for the Emerald Cities Collaborative for the Northwest Region.  In this role she oversees the delivery of the signature E-Contractor Academy and manages contractor development programming. She is an economic development professional with over 14 years’ experience assisting underserved communities in achieving their small business dreams. Monica’s experience includes implementing and developing educational programs for entrepreneurs as well as underwriting and overseeing small business lending for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

Sandy Fischler-Laube – Fellow - Energy Efficiency, Energy Solutions – Sandy has been changing hearts and light bulbs in the energy efficiency world for over 25 years. Prior to being absorbed by the energy borg, she was a Special Events Producer in the sports and entertainment field. At Energy Solutions she provides strategic vision for a variety of projects in the areas of Workforce Education & Training and Equitable Decarbonization. Sandy has deep expertise in residential retrofit programs and has lead both implementation and marketing teams for Energy Upgrade California and SCE’s Mobile Education Unit.