September 2024.
Dan Bisset
Vice President – North America at Astute People | Talent Acquisition Expert | Power, Nuclear, & Renewable Energy Recruitment | Headhunter
With the end of the year in sight, the energy sector is seeing projects either being pushed through before the election or businesses holding back to see what November brings.
The past four weeks have brought us some exciting developments across the sector, compounding the 2024 mission of enhancing grid flexibility, expanding renewable energy capacity and meeting federal carbon reduction targets.
One consistent theme across all energy sectors, fuel types and new technologies is the demand for skilled people. With the number of planned projects heading into 2025, the fight for top talent continues.
Here's a round-up of some of the top news stories from the past month.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved a $2.3 billion solar and battery storage project, Libra Solar, in Nevada this week. Developed by Arevia Power, the 700 MW solar and 700 MW/2.8 GW battery storage facility will be built on 5,141 acres of BLM land, located 20 miles south of the Fort Churchill substation in Yerington, Nevada.
The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) announced that 433 renewable natural gas facilities are now operational across North America. This marks a 44% growth in just one year, up from 300 facilities in the previous year.
The clean energy sector, which has seen significant growth in recent years, is a particular area of focus. Government initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips and Science Act have contributed to a rise in clean energy jobs, which grew by 142,000 last year—outpacing growth in the broader energy sector and the U.S. economy.
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Demand for nuclear energy is increasing rapidly, but there are concerns about whether the industry has enough new talent. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of U.S. nuclear engineering graduates dropped by 25%, with only 454 students earning degrees in 2022. Meanwhile, the nuclear workforce is ageing, with 17% of workers over 55.
In a major funding effort for rural electrification, President Biden announced $7.3 billion for 16 electric cooperatives across 23 states to build and expand clean energy. The funds, from the Inflation Reduction Act and awarded through the Department of Agriculture's Empowering Rural America program, aim to provide reliable electricity and create jobs in the clean energy sector.
Astute has released the 2024 RNG Talent Report, giving an insight into emerging talent hubs, hard-to-find fills, ED&I stats & top tips on how to attract and retain top talent in a growing industry. To get your copy of the report, follow the link above.
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As the energy sector continues to expand, the demand for skilled professionals is more critical than ever. If you're looking to grow your team or searching for your next role, get in touch with us today.
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