Wisconsin’s clean energy workforce is nearly 72,000 strong, with good-paying local jobs like installing solar and electric vehicle charging stations, manufacturing energy storage systems, servicing wind turbines, and retrofitting buildings. Continued investment in clean energy and electric transportation will create more jobs and is an opportunity for Wisconsin to become a clean energy leader in the Midwest. State and federal clean energy and electric transportation commitments, substantial federal funds to support those goals, and increased interest in clean energy investments from the public sector place Wisconsin at the precipice of significant clean energy job growth.

The enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) opens a new chapter in the transition to a clean energy future. Departing from its own history of advancing incremental, bite-sized initiatives to advance clean energy at the margins, Congress stepped up and delivered sweeping legislation commensurate with the climate challenge at hand. The IRA provides a systematic and interwoven tapestry of policies for accelerating and sustaining private investments in clean energy deployment, manufacturing, and workforce development over the next ten years. The intention of this law is to build an entire economy out of the clean energy transformation that will occur in all 50 states.

Congress passed the bipartisan infrastructure law in November 2021. The bill will invest $7.5 billion over five years to build a nationwide network of 500,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers to accelerate EV adoption, reduce emissions, improve air quality, and create good-paying jobs across the country. Of this budget, Wisconsin can expect to receive $79 million. Wisconsin will also have the opportunity to apply for $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to electric vehicle charging.

Recent studies and RENEW’s own analysis suggest that the federal stimulus funds spent on transportation electrification will yield a 500% return on investment. Building a network of electric vehicle charging stations will create thousands of Wisconsin clean energy jobs. Advancing electric transportation means better, stronger communities built by Wisconsin workers.

Wisconsin’s solar job market held steady throughout the pandemic, and the industry continues to progress. Local job opportunities are growing rapidly, signaling clean energy investments are a bipartisan solution to strengthening Wisconsin’s economy and advancing careers for local workers. There is an urgent need to drive investment and expand our workforce. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the solar industry will reach 400,000 solar jobs by 2030. However, employment will need to scale up to more than 900,000 workers by 2035 to reach President Biden’s 100% clean electricity goal.

In April of 2022, Governor Tony Evers introduced Wisconsin’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan. The plan will generate 40,000 new jobs in Wisconsin by 2030, or 6,000 new jobs per year. It will create a Clean Energy Workforce Advisory Council and strengthen the workforce with apprenticeship tracks and reentry training for formerly incarcerated individuals. Demand for clean energy workers in Wisconsin is high and growing. State leadership will ensure Wisconsinites have access to training and jobs to help them embark on clean energy careers.

In 2019, Governor Evers set a goal that all electricity consumed in the state will be 100% carbon-free by 2050. Renewable energy currently only accounts for 13% of all electricity sold in Wisconsin. According to the Energy Information Administration, Wisconsin consumes almost six times as much energy as it produces, spending billions each year on coal, oil, and natural gas. A smart, carbon-free energy transition will keep more money in-state through investments in homegrown energy and Wisconsin workers. State and federal investments are moving us toward our clean energy goals, but we need to maximize the benefits of this energy transition for Wisconsin residents. Wisconsin needs to grow its clean energy workforce to take advantage of clean energy and electric transportation opportunities.

Let’s build a chorus of voices to highlight and celebrate Wisconsin’s clean energy opportunities. We will need an “all of the above” and “all hands on deck” approach to shape our clean energy future. An investment in renewable energy and clean transportation is an investment in Wisconsin families and communities. Together, we can build a stronger, smarter Wisconsin powered by clean energy.

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