A RENEWABLE AMERICA JOBS TOUR

The renewable energy sector employs 549,911 Americans and has quickly become one of the nation’s leading drivers of job growth.

A Renewable America (ARA) Jobs Tour was launched in 2017 to ensure key decision makers and the public understand the significant economic benefits renewable energy provides communities from coast to coast. The ARA Jobs Tour helps connect wind and solar business leaders with policymakers across the U.S. to shine a light on the renewable sector’s positive impact on local economies, and the policies and market drivers that will allow America’s continued renewable energy growth.

The ARA Jobs Tour has traveled around the country spotlighting renewable job creation and other economic benefits of the growing U.S. solar and wind industries. Watch video highlights from the ARA Jobs Tour below. You can also read more about individual events, which have garnered more than 300 press clips, by clicking through the pages under “States Visited.”

After a successful A Renewable America event in Santa Fe, New Mexico in early 2020, the Jobs Tour shifted from on-the-ground events to virtual offerings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual Townhalls

Colorado: On October 20, elected officials, state policymakers, Colorado state agency staff, nonprofit leaders, and industry representatives led a virtual panel discussion on how wind and solar energy are driving job creation and economic growth in the state. Panelists highlighted how transmission expansion and upgrades are needed for additional growth, as well as to meet the state’s bold renewable energy goals. Learn more about the event and watch a recording of the panel discussion here.

Illinois: On December 17, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) joined a panel of political, business, and academic leaders to discuss the future of renewable energy in the state, and how continued growth depends on developing both a strong workforce and robust grid infrastructure. The discussion highlighted the job creation and economic benefits of the state’s growing wind and solar industries, as well as some legislative and regulatory headwinds currently limiting future deployment. Watch a recording of the discussion here.

Iowa: The ARA Jobs Tour convened two virtual panels this year with Iowa stakeholders. The first in October brought together economic development officials, wind and solar supply chain companies, and local academics to highlight the growth of wind and solar energy manufacturing in the Hawkeye State and how the two sectors have the potential to grow the state’s economy during post-COVID-19 recovery efforts. A second event in celebration of Veterans Day discussed how Iowa-made renewable energy is providing stable, well-paid career opportunities for veterans. Learn more about the events here.

Nebraska: The campaign hosted two virtual discussions with key Nebraska stakeholders. The first, held on October 21, brought together elected officials, utility leaders, and renewable energy developers for an educational forum on the growth of clean energy in Nebraska and the need for modernized transmission infrastructure. The second, held on December 10, brought together U.S. Representative Don Bacon (NE-02), local economic development officials, wind technology instructors and solar developers to discuss the economic benefits of renewable energy development. The event highlighted the impact of federal policy on the growth of renewables, educational opportunities in the sector, and how wind and solar energy are creating well-paid jobs in rural Nebraska. Learn more about the events here.

New Mexico: On October 14, a virtual panel with representatives from statewide economic development organizations discussed how local communities have harnessed the power of wind and solar to create jobs, support farmers and ranchers, and stimulate the economy. Learn more about the event here.

New York: The ARA Jobs Tour helped convene three well-attended virtual townhalls this summer with key New York stakeholders. The first covered how investing, expanding, and upgrading the New York grid will deliver new in-state jobs and economic growth, while enabling the state to meet its ambitious renewable energy law. A second event in August connected New York policymakers to the job creation and economic benefits of the growing wind and solar industries in the state, with virtual tours of wind, solar, and hydropower facilities and a Q&A session with project developers. A third townhall in October helped key New York decisionmakers understand how an upcoming final NYISO rulemaking on hybrid projects can either drive new job creation and economic growth in the state or leave New York lagging behind other states in the country. Learn more about the events here.

Digital Ad Campaign

Working closely with the American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association, the ARA Jobs Tour launched a federally-targeted digital ad campaign in July to generate grassroots support for clean energy jobs in the next COVID relief package. The ads were viewed over 1 million times, generating nearly 2,000 Congressional office contacts.