The Clean Energy Industry

Globally, nationally, and regionally, this industry is in the midst of tremendous change. Significant growth in the clean energy sector has occurred in recent years and forecasts show that this trend will continue.

Washington state is on the leading edge of new developments and is well positioned to accelerate the shift toward a clean energy economy to support state environmental and economic goals. The future growth in renewable clean energy depends on a well-qualified workforce to design, build, operate, and maintain clean energy generation plants and equipment.

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SKILL STANDARDS

Skills needed by industry workers

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CAREERS

Explore careers in the clean energy industry

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NEWS & EVENTS

Stay up-to-date with the latest news in the clean energy industry

Energy Industry Skill Standards

Energy Industry Skill Standards are critical work functions and activities, performance and knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in energy-related occupations. We provide skill standards for the development of the energy industry’s skilled workforce.

Careers in the Energy Industry

The rapid developments in technology now underway in the energy sector will create profound changes in the way electricity is produced, distributed and utilized throughout the country. Electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest have identified the acquisition and implementation of “smart grid” systems as a top priority. These changes to our infrastructure will create both challenges and opportunities for the regional and national energy workforce. Electric utility jobs will change, and new jobs and skill sets will emerge as a result of this new technology.

Along with the implementation of new “smarter” technologies, the energy sector is facing a looming labor shortage. More than 50 percent of the skilled workers in our regions utilities are eligible for retirement in the next 10 years. Recruiting, training and retaining new employees while also upgrading the skills of existing workers will become essential to ensuring that the future utility workforce is established and productive.

Energy Workforce

The Center of Excellence for Clean Energy is at the nexus of this technological and demographic shift and is working with industry, organized labor, education, and community partners to ensure a vibrant and highly skilled energy workforce for the next century.

Industry News & Events

We post clean energy news and events related to job opportunities and conferences.