Veterans in Clean Energy – Serving our Country in the Military and Beyond

On November 11, the nation honored veterans who served the United States in both times of war, and peace. As we thank the millions of veterans for their service, we want to acknowledge those who have found a place in the clean energy workforce.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are nearly 750,000 veterans in the U.S. Energy Workforce. Veterans make up 9 percent of the national clean energy workforce and even more so, 10.8 percent, here in the Midwest. For reference, the national average is 5 percent. In CGA's footprint, more than 9 percent of the clean energy workforce is comprised of veterans. Indiana has the largest percentage of veterans serving in its clean energy workforce at 12.5 percent. However, Michigan has the highest total number of veterans in the workforce with 13,535 veteran workers.

CGA's Vice President of Advocacy, Jeff Danielson, and Senior Manager, Transmission and Markets, Tyler Bergman, are among the veterans working in the clean energy industry. Jeff was recently named a 2024 Notable Military Veteran Executive by Twin Cities Business.

When asked about the high rate of veterans employed in the clean energy industry, Jeff said, "If your resume wears combat boots, there is place for you in clean energy. The skills of being able to solve problems in the field, taking the initiative and paying attention to detail, are all valuable in clean energy."

Tyler echoed Jeff's perspective, saying, "Both the military and the clean energy industry are strongly mission-oriented, which is what drew me to CGA. Collaborating with developers and MISO to advance a clean energy future addresses critical challenges like reliability and climate change while driving meaningful and lasting change."

Vets Working in Wind

In the wind industry, veterans make up 9 percent of the workforce, with massive growth on the horizon. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, wind turbine service technician is the fastest growing job in America. The position is expected to grow 60 percent by 2033, from 11,400 jobs to over 18,000 jobs.

With over 11,000 veterans currently working in the wind industry, it is clear that the sector is a place where they can thrive. The United States Army supports this career path by offering a course to train veterans and transitioning soldiers to work in the wind industry and other alternative energy industries. The course is called Renewable Energy and Communications Tower Technician Program and is offered in partnership with Airstreams Renewables Inc. According to the U.S. Army, the course is part of The Fort Benning Career Skills Program (CSP) that "offers vocational and technical training programs that focus on the practical application of learned skills and can lead to competitive employment in a specific career or technical trade."

Solar Jobs Abound

The solar industry also has programs in place to prepare veterans for jobs in the solar industry. The?Solar Ready Vets Network?is a set of programs funded by the Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Programs such as the?Solar Ready Vets Fellowship Program?connect veterans and transitioning soldiers with career training, professional development, and employment opportunities.

There are currently over 30,000 veterans that are working in the solar industry, making up 8 percent of the workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, solar photovoltaic installer is the second fastest growing job in America. The position is expected to grow 48 percent by 2033.

Veterans Excel in Delivering Clean Energy

The transmission, distribution, and storage industries employ over 90,000 veterans, which makes up 7 percent of the workforce. Project Vanguard elevates the voices of veterans and assists in getting them introduced to the clean energy industry. VAEP's mission is to empower veterans with resources and networking tools to help them join the clean energy workforce and help secure our nation's energy independence. We recently talked about renewables and energy independence in our blog, "What Is Energy Independence, and Why Is It important?"

We are proud to be working in an industry that employs veterans at rate well above the national average. As the clean energy industry continues to grow, so too, will the opportunities for veterans to join the clean energy workforce.