The Carbon Copy: The great electrician shortage

As the world transitions to a decarbonized economy, there's an urgent need to electrify various systems, from heating and transportation to water heating and renewable energy. However, there's a significant shortage of electricians to install the necessary infrastructure, such as heat pumps, EV chargers, and solar panels. This shortage is a major challenge in achieving our climate goals, as the demand for electricians is skyrocketing while many are nearing retirement age. In a special collaboration with Grist, this episode of The Carbon Copy features a conversation with reporter Emily Ponticorvo, who went on a mission to explore the origins of this issue. She spoke with people in training programs and those having trouble getting the work done. This episode provides valuable insights into the economy-wide challenges we face as we undergo this transition towards electrification. Additionally, there's an upcoming live event on April 6th at Greentown Labs in Somerville, Massachusetts, where Steven Lacy will be hosting a discussion on AI and digital climate solutions with special guests Priya Dhamthi and Jesse Morris. Make sure to get your tickets in the show notes.

The transition to electrify homes with appliances like heat pumps and electric vehicles is a complex and time-consuming process, with many homeowners facing challenges in finding and securing the services of electricians. Champuri Riff, a product designer, shared his experience of wanting to go fully electric in his Berkeley, California home but encountering difficulties in upgrading his electricity to support solar panels due to a lack of available electricians. This issue is common, with an estimated 60-70% of homes in the US needing electrical upgrades to support electric appliances. The demand for electricians is high, making it a challenging and lengthy process for homeowners to find and secure their services. Despite the challenges, the urgency to make this transition to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change is pressing.

The demand for electricians is skyrocketing due to the shift towards electrification and the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers rebates for people to make the switch. However, there's a shortage of electricians to meet this demand. Borin Reyes, a young CEO of Boyse Electric Incorporated, shared his story of how he fell in love with electrical work and how it's now in high demand. With 12 technicians, Borin is barely keeping up with the calls he receives every day. He's even entered a partnership with Qmerit to install electric vehicle chargers for new EV owners. The electrical workforce needs to be built up to meet the demands of electrification and reduce carbon emissions. The rebates and incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act present an opportunity to address this issue and make a positive impact on the environment.

The electrification wave is creating a high demand for electrical contractors, but the industry is facing a significant labor shortage. Contractors are unable to find experienced electricians to hire due to the aging workforce and the decline in vocational education in schools. This issue is further complicated by the fact that new hires require extensive training before they can effectively execute jobs, which takes resources and time away from completing projects. As a result, homeowners looking to electrify their homes are facing long wait times and increased costs. To address this issue, there is a need to encourage younger generations to pursue careers in the trades and provide more vocational opportunities. The lack of emphasis on vocational education and the societal pressure to attend four-year colleges have contributed to the shortage of skilled labor in the electrification industry. It is crucial to recognize the importance of these trades and invest in the next generation of workers to ensure the successful implementation of decarbonization efforts.

Our society undervalues vocational careers, such as electricians, plumbers, and builders, despite their importance and potential for good income. This issue is perpetuated by limited opportunities for vocational education, particularly in underfunded community colleges. For instance, Laney College in the Bay Area, a leading institution for electrical training, almost collapsed when a teacher retired, due to the lack of funding and instructors. However, there are various paths into these fields, such as union apprenticeships and on-the-job training with licensed contractors. To address this issue, we need to shift our cultural perception of vocational careers and invest more resources into community colleges to ensure a steady supply of skilled workers.

The electrical and electronics technology (EET) program at Laney College, which David was attending to become an electrician and advance in his career, is facing a significant challenge due to a lack of certified faculty members to teach the classes. This issue is causing delays and uncertainty for students like David, who are eager to complete their training and enter the workforce to meet the high demand for electricians in the Bay Area. The situation is complicated by the fact that faculty members in this field often earn more by working in the industry than they do by teaching, making it difficult to recruit and retain qualified instructors. As a result, homeowners are experiencing delays in electrification projects, and contractors are unable to take on new clients due to a shortage of trained electricians. The situation highlights the importance of addressing the faculty shortage in trade skills disciplines like EET to ensure a steady supply of skilled workers and support economic growth.

Solving the workforce shortage for the implementation of carbon-free technologies in California requires a multi-faceted approach. The first solution is increasing funding for community colleges to hire and pay more faculty, allowing them to train more workers. Another solution is strengthening unions, which offer robust training programs but are undercut by nonunion electricians. Contractors, like Boren, can also play a role in training workers, but the cost of training eats into their profits. Public funding for training, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, could help offset these costs. Additionally, there is hesitance among some contractors about electrifying homes entirely and installing carbon-free technologies, which California is addressing through programs like Tech Clean California, which trains contractors on how to install these technologies. Overall, a combination of public and private funding, union strengthening, and contractor training is necessary to address the workforce shortage and successfully implement carbon-free technologies in California.

There's a push to train more contractors to install carbon-free technologies, but there's a need to address the cultural perception of trades jobs and inspire more people to become electricians. Companies are providing incentives and training programs, but they're also emphasizing the financial benefits, which can be comparable to those of engineers or college graduates. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council is creating resources for clean energy careers in schools and working on outreach campaigns to remove the stigma from trade jobs. A potential solution could be marketing these jobs as a way to make a good income while also making a positive impact on the environment. The goal is to make the construction industry more appealing to a wider range of people, not just those who want to save the world, but also those who are looking for a financially rewarding career.

The Carbon Copy podcast is a collaborative production between Postscript Media and Canary Media. It's supported by Prelude Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs tackling climate change across various sectors like advanced energy, food and ag, transportation, advanced materials, and advanced computing. The podcast is produced by Alexandria Herr and Emily Pontacorbo, edited by Anne Bailey, mixed by Sean Marquand, and features original music from Echo Finch and Blue Dot Sessions. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast on social media, send emails, or leave ratings on Apple and Spotify. The Carbon Copy podcast, hosted by Steven Lacey, covers climate change and will return next week.