At the request of DNREC, I recently attended a workshop to discuss opportunities and challenges to increasing Delaware’s clean energy workforce. Held at Blue Ball Barn and led by the agency’s consultants, BW Research, the morning long discussion laid out what they see as existing and future demand in this sector of construction. Over the past several months, BW Research has been conducting interviews to gain an understanding of the workforce resources that exist in the state.

BW Research’s report stated that total clean energy employment in Delaware reached 12,440 in 2022, about 2.5% of Delaware’s overall workforce. Most of the clean energy workforce was in the energy efficiency technology sector. There has been significant growth in this sector since BLS reported employment numbers in 2022 and continued growth is projected through 2030. During the next 5+ years, plumbers, pipe fitters and steamfitters and HVAC Technicians and Mechanics will see the greatest employment growth.

A lot of discussion was had during the roundtable portion of the meeting regarding how, in an industry that already battles workforce shortages, do we help the clean energy worker come into the process. As opposed to standing up one-off educational programs we spent some time discussing how to adjust existing apprenticeship programs or the existing educational opportunities to make the process easier while still ensuring the craft person has the skills and knowledge they need.

This was the first of a few meetings DNREC plans to have on increasing Delaware’s clean energy workforce. With mandates and funding at both the federal and state level, there is opportunity to expand the construction workforce’s role, but work needs to go into the most impactful way to promote these opportunity to those in the skilled trades.