Unites States

Rosemary Lytle and Melanie Santiago-Mosier are two women of color leading in the NAACP and Vote Solar who are calling for greater diversity in the solar industry. An industry crippled with regards to equitable access to employment and economic opportunities, studies show that companies that hire diversely, perform better financially. And despite solar employment being twice what it was in 2010, women and people of color are less likely to earn executive level wages and be satisfied with their current position with half of African Americans feel stuck with respect to their mobility in the career ladder. With the very premise of the solar industry painting a better way forward, progress towards a diverse workforce can be made through equitable hiring practices. Other efforts involve adopting best practices when recruiting, creating a culture of inclusion, and allowing space for professional development. Community programs also aid in making the solar industry more accessible with the NAACP Power Up program allowing the incarcerated to break out of recidivism through solar job training and placement. Photo credit: Grid Alternatives