After a full year in the field, the Solar Energy Industries Association’s first-of-its-kind Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Certification Program is making a measurable impact and helping clean energy businesses improve internal DEIJ practices.
“If we want the solar workforce to keep pace with the clean energy boom around the corner, complacency is not an option,” said SEIA president and. “We cannot expect equity to grow organically, and the actions we take today will impact our ability to reach our goals in the Solar+ Decade. Tools like the DEIJ Certification Program are absolutely necessary to close the gap between talk and action, and we look forward to building on the successes of this important program.
The report also shares data about the participating companies, which showcases the program’s ability to bring traditionally cost-prohibitive DEIJ services to businesses of all sizes. More than 75% of the companies participating in the program have fewer than 200 workers and 40% have fewer than 50 workers. Enrolled companies represent the entire solar value chain, from project developers, engineering, procurement and construction firms, manufacturers, financiers to nonprofit organizations.
Empowering companies to look at their internal DEIJ practices is a core goal of the certification program. Every single company enrolled in the program reports having developed a written DEIJ communications plan and has made training available to their workforce.
DEI = RACEISM