Meet the Female Pioneers Behind New York's Green Energy Revolution
Women take climate action 2.5 times more often than men, which makes them natural leaders in the green energy revolution that now energizes New York State. Their leadership shines through pioneers like Doreen M. Harris, NYSERDA's President and CEO, who continues to revolutionize clean energy through innovative policies and workforce development initiatives.
Recent studies from NYSERDA's annual Clean Energy Industry Report reveal growing diversity within New York's clean energy workforce. Time magazine's recognition of María Mendiluce among its 100 most influential people on climate in 2023 showcases women's expanding role in this sector. These female pioneers don't just participate in the transformation - they actively drive New York's ambitious clean energy future forward.
Leading the Clean Energy Revolution
New York State leads America's renewable energy revolution with bold targets to transform its power system. The state wants 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and plans a zero-emission electric grid by 2040. Right now, renewable sources generate 29% of the state's electricity. The state needs 20 GW of extra generation capacity in the next eight years to reach these targets.
New York's renewable energy goals
Wind, solar, and hydropower development form the backbone of the state's clean energy shift. This rapid growth in renewable energy will create more than 50,000 new, family-sustaining jobs. The Green Economy Action Plan shows green jobs will grow from 2021 levels to almost 400,000 by 2040. This growth will add nearly $89 billion to the city's economy each year.
Key Female Executives Making Change
NYSERDA's President and CEO Doreen M. Harris has led the state's clean energy initiatives since April 2021. Her team conducts yearly studies to track clean energy workforce diversity and growth across sectors. COI Energy's founder SaLisa Berrien brings 25 years of industry experience to help businesses boost energy performance and cut emissions.
Success stories and achievements
Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) runs a powerful recognition program that showcases women's leadership in renewables. WRISE has honored many women who showed real impact in advancing renewable energy since 2018. Global Diversity & Inclusion expert George-Axelle guides Sunrun's efforts to build diverse teams and offer affordable home solar solutions. She helped Sunrun launch its first integrated D&I policy and scorecard.
Solar One's Green Workforce training program shows what success looks like. The program's curriculum now runs five weeks for some courses, up from two weeks. This year, nearly 400 students earned over 1,100 certifications. Women from Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) achieved a perfect 100% success rate.
The Urban Green Council estimates New York City needs to modernize about 50,000 buildings to electrify systems and boost energy efficiency. This makes it one of the world's largest retrofit markets. Through these programs, women leaders shape policies, drive breakthroughs, and create paths for diverse participation in the state's clean energy future.
Women remain nowhere near equally represented in clean energy companies' management levels, even with the progress made in renewable energy. The numbers tell the story - women make up merely 25% of leadership roles and 26% of middle and lower-level manager positions in renewable energy companies. Many talented women are breaking through these barriers and creating opportunities for future generations.
First women in leadership roles
Gender disparity remains a reality in engineering classrooms. Women made up just 10% of engineering students at the University of Rochester. Kate Gleason, a mechanical engineer, became an inspiration to countless women through her technical innovations and industry contributions. A scientist at NYSERDA, Janet Joseph mentored many women and showed how diversity makes the clean energy sector stronger.
BluePrint Power's founders Robyn Beavers and Claire Woo illustrate this progress by transforming buildings into intelligent power nodes. Leslie Dewan, Co-Founder and CEO of Transatomic Power, guides innovations in molten salt reactor technology to create clean, safe nuclear power.
Innovative solutions and approaches
Women leaders bring game-changing solutions to energy challenges. Dynamic Energy Networks, under Karen Morgan's leadership, develops microgrids and distributed energy sources that work independently or with existing utility grids. Sandhya Murali and Steph Speirs founded Solstice to make community solar available to every American household.
The Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) program stands out with its Green Collar Prep initiative. This detailed training program prepares women from underresourced communities for green-collar careers. The program includes:
Skills training and physical conditioning
Environmental literacy education
Construction techniques
Networking opportunities with industry experts
Site tours focusing on environmental stewardship
The Climate Justice Fellowship program builds on this momentum by connecting aspiring clean energy professionals with forward-thinking organizations. Women now shape the field as they enter it. Research shows that countries with strong women's political participation take more ambitious climate action. Women's representation in clean energy leadership positions becomes vital to promote innovation and creative solutions for climate challenges.
Building the Future
Professional development drives New York's clean energy workforce expansion. NYSERDA has invested more than $180 million in funding to support training and advancement initiatives. This investment shows the state's dedication to building a resilient and fair clean energy economy.
Mentorship programs
The Women's Energy Network (WEN)Greater New York City Chapter runs a mentorship program that connects seasoned professionals with rising talent. Mentors lead monthly peer-to-peer sessions about vital topics like leadership presence, dealing with imposter syndrome, and understanding unconscious bias. The Women in Cleantech & Sustainability (WCS) also offers a focused 3-month cohort-based program that helps women advance their careers in cleantech sectors.
Education initiatives
NYSERDA takes a detailed approach that covers several educational paths:
On-the-job training for new clean energy staff
Internships for hands-on experience
Curriculum development that matches employer needs
Pre-apprenticeships and journey worker training
Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) created the Green Collar Prep program to help women from underresourced communities start green-collar careers. The program blends technical skills training with physical conditioning, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Career development paths
NYSERDA's Climate Justice Fellowship program shows the state's dedication to environmental equity. The program gives you a chance to develop clean energy career skills while working with forward-thinking organizations. Fellows work on practical projects like developing E-Bike libraries and building partnerships with local community groups.
The Clean Energy Career Maps initiative highlights various industry paths:
Renewable energy development
Building operations management
Clean energy entrepreneurship
Facility management
Contractor and installer roles
These career paths get support through targeted funding programs that expand training opportunities and create lasting talent pipelines. Organizations can get up to 75% wage reimbursementduring a new hire's 4-6 month training period. This approach cuts down the costs and risks of growing their workforce.
Impact on New York's Energy Landscape
"Distributed solar is at the heart of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the availability of renewable energy, and delivering substantial benefits for our health, our environment, and our economy." — Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York
New York's energy landscape is changing rapidly through groundbreaking policy changes and infrastructure developments. NYSERDA's detailed approach includes USD 22 million in funding for projects that strengthen and modernize the state's electric grid. This investment helps municipal utilities, rural cooperatives, and small electricity providers prepare for future extreme weather events.
Policy changes
The state's climate agenda requires an affordable transition to a clean energy economy. A minimum of 35% of the benefits will go to disadvantaged communities. New York secured substantial funding through the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants as part of a USD 125 million allocation across nine states. So, these initiatives focus on projects that deliver the most important community benefits through clean, affordable, and reliable energy solutions.
Expanding transmission capacity in high-demand areas
Accelerating investments in natural gas distribution
Implementing advanced energy management systems
Evaluating offshore wind resources
New York wants to install 3,000 MW of energy storage by 2030 to ensure reliable infrastructure and simplified delivery of renewable resources. On top of that, the state targets 10,000 megawatts of distributed solar energy, among 16,000 MW of large-scale solar and 4,000 MW of onshore wind capacity.
Community benefits
NYSERDA's EmPower+ program brings substantial advantages to communities through energy efficiency and clean energy services for income-eligible homes. The program promotes inclusive engagement and focuses on historically marginalized stakeholders and disadvantaged communities. NYSERDA cooperates with Regional Clean Energy Hubs to ensure these populations receive essential services.
The Clean Energy Career Maps initiative creates pathways for community members to join the industry through various roles in renewable energy development and building operations management. NYSERDA's workforce development programs are a great way to get funding for training initiatives, internships, and on-the-job training opportunities that promote economic growth in local communities.
Conclusion
Women leaders are changing New York's clean energy world through innovative leadership and groundbreaking initiatives. Their effect reaches beyond individual achievements and creates lasting changes in policy, infrastructure, and workforce development.
The Climate Justice Fellowship and Green Collar Prep have become successful models to increase diversity in clean energy careers. These initiatives work best with NYSERDA's detailed funding approach that supports training and advancement opportunities in the sector.
Leaders like Doreen M. Harris and SaLisa Berrien bring fresh viewpoints and solutions to climate challenges. Their achievements create paths for future generations. State-backed programs provide vital support through mentorship, education, and career development opportunities.
New York's goal to source 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 opens new doors. Organizations looking to strengthen their position in New York's clean energy future must prioritize diverse hiring practices and inclusive workplace policies. New York is ready to achieve its ambitious clean energy goals while promoting a more equitable industry. These initiatives will succeed with continued support for women-led programs, steady investment in workforce development, and active involvement from public and private sectors to remove remaining barriers
