Layoffs Surge in Clean Energy

Energy Gang

Wood Mackenzie

Tech News, Environment, Sustainability, Innovation, Renewable Energy, Technology, Alternative Energy, Energy, News, Cleantech, Wind Energy, Business, Climate Change, Solar Energy

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2020

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, we look at sky-high layoffs in clean energy. How do we get people back to work?

The first major analysis of unemployment in the clean energy sector has been released for April. According to E2 and BW Research, nearly 600,000 jobs were lost in energy efficiency, manufacturing, electric vehicles and clean power and fuels.

We’ve seen a 17 percent drop in the green workforce since the start of the year. Those losses amount to double the employment growth in clean energy for the last three years.

It’s likely to get worse before it gets better. How much should we worry? And what sectors will come back the fastest?

Then, what do 200 of the world’s top economic advisers think about the most effective low-carbon solutions for economic recovery?

And finally, we’ll revisit wildfires. Why can’t California utilities, especially northern giant PG&E, get it right when it comes to fire prevention?

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Energy Gang is brought to you by Sungrow. Sungrow is the leading global supplier of inverter solutions for renewables.
0:06.2	During these uncertain times, Sungrow is committed to protecting its employees and continuing to reliably serve its customers around the world.
0:14.0	Sungrow has also leveraged its extensive network across the US to distribute face masks to communities in need.
0:20.0	Learn more about Sungrow's work at www.
0:22.0	Sungrow Power work at W. W.Sungrow Power.
0:25.0	From Green Tech Media, this is the Energy Gang. Weekly debates and discussions about the fast-changing world of energy.
0:37.0	I'm Stephen Lacy. Welcome to the show. The latest data on unemployment and clean energy is out and it is worse than expected.
0:45.0	Nearly half a million people across efficiency, renewables, clean vehicles, and fuels lost their jobs in April.
0:51.0	The business group E2 projects that if nothing is done, clean energy
0:54.6	will lose a quarter of its workforce by July. We're going to take a closer look and ask how or
0:59.6	if the jobs are coming back. Then economists weigh in, Nicholas Stern and Joseph Stiglitz
1:05.0	surveyed more than 200 central bank and finance ministers to target the most effective recovery measures.
1:10.7	We'll talk about what could be the fastest and the best for climate.
1:14.5	And finally, wildfires during a pandemic.
1:17.0	Are California utilities ready for these dual threats?
1:20.0	And why did a judge call PG&E's fire preparation work courtroom props?
1:25.1	I suspect that Jigger will have something stronger to say about P.G&E today, who knows?
1:31.7	Jigger Shaw is there in Bethesda, Maryland, he's the
1:35.0	president of Genre A capital and he's our regular co-host. Hey Jigger.
1:38.3	Hey, are you feeling strong-minded today? Do you have strong words to share with us?
1:43.0	I'm always feeling strong-minded.
1:46.0	This is an important service that we provide to our listeners.
	...

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