“Talent is universal, opportunity is not,” said Molly Bauch, the North American Connected Energy Service lead with Accenture. Bauch was a panelist at Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota’s (GESMN) annual Power of Purpose virtual event on February 15, 2024, that garnered over 100 attendees.

The event, titled – The Future of Green and Clean Energy Jobs is Now – explored the growing workforce needs of the clean energy sector. Jobs like electric vehicle technician and solar panel installer are expected to increase exponentially in coming years. This is why Accenture and Goodwill Industries International have launched a partnership – The Clean Tech Accelerator – to invest in preparing 7,000 people across the country over the next five years for jobs in the clean energy sector. The partnership will prepare people through short-term training and Goodwill affiliates will ensure participants have the wraparound employment support services and skills needed for success.

Russ Stark, chief resilience officer with the St. Paul Mayor’s Office, was also a panelist. He discussed how the Saint Paul Climate Action Resilience Plan focuses on ensuring the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions cascade to low-income households.

Moderated by Sheila Olson, GESMN’s chief services and programs officer, the panel discussion encouraged continued investments in career training programs like those offered at GESMN and the importance of educating employers on the vast potential and talent of workforce development program graduates.

Watch the Power of Purpose Event recording here .

The Power of Purpose event is held annually to highlight donors and partners and provide a platform to learn about emerging workforce topics.

Additional Resources on Clean Energy:

• Great Plains Institute
• The White House’s clean energy initiatives
• Rewiring America