Chris Dougher is vice president of operations at Sila.
China’s advantage in clean energy manufacturing comes down to an investment in manufacturing infrastructure, including both physical assets and skilled labor. For America to achieve independence and success in the new energy economy, we need to build massive production capacity in our own country.
In the last century, the private sector alongside government programs have reshaped America’s infrastructure and industrial capacity while creating new opportunities for millions of workers. Now, public-private partnerships can play a similar role to support the clean energy transformation, and workforce development will be a critical part of that effort.
The clean energy manufacturing imperative
Investing in America’s manufacturing base is critical to support growth and independence. The ability to build products here helps to increase economic resilience by reducing our vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions and strengthens our communities by creating jobs. The advanced technologies we build into our manufacturing processes and products foster innovation across entire industries. Developing a highly skilled labor pool makes it possible to build and grow more businesses within the U.S. rather than shipping these benefits overseas.
As the largest investment in clean energy infrastructure in American history, the bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021 makes billions of dollars in funding available for clean energy manufacturing and workforce development. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains is taking the lead on strengthening and securing the manufacturing and energy supply chains required to modernize our energy infrastructure and support the clean energy transition.
For many companies, the investments made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law will focus on the physical side — the facilities required to manufacture clean energy products. But there’s more to infrastructure than buildings and equipment. Manufacturing requires a skilled workforce — especially as the products we build and the facilities we operate become more technically sophisticated. But today, the American manufacturing sector faces a highly competitive marketplace for top talent.
As an industry, we simply don’t have enough trained workers with the knowledge and experience to staff and operate our growing physical infrastructure. To build successful clean energy manufacturing businesses in the U.S. while revitalizing our domestic industrial base, companies need to take responsibility for developing the workforce their growth depends on.
Partnering to build a new talent pipeline
As we work to ensure a sufficient supply of skilled workers, we can leverage existing infrastructure that’s already close at hand: America’s community colleges and trade schools. They are well established and trusted within their communities, with connections to young people preparing to enter the workforce. Many already collaborate closely with local industry to tailor their programs to the opportunities available in their region, providing a template for a new wave of manufacturing partnerships. Such programs are already underway to prepare students for jobs in next-generation fields.
Rather than starting from scratch, partnering with local community colleges and trade schools allows manufacturers to build on those existing technical education programs. Companies can collaborate with administrators and faculty to develop multi-course training curricula designed to support student success in the type of facilities they operate. Coursework can be complemented with onsite visits, guest instructors from industry, presentations and workshops with experts, and hands-on training with mock equipment.
Beyond these partnerships, companies can also offer early opportunities such as internships that bring students into plants to work safely alongside current employees and get a deeper understanding of this career path. As graduates of such programs matriculate into the workforce, their development can continue with in-house training material and education to open further career pathways.
The financing model for workforce development programs can vary. In some states, significant funding is available to support new facilities and factories built specifically for educational purposes, whether in-house or in partnership with local schools. Other states may have different provisions. Navigating the resources available from state to state is a perennial topic of discussion for industry groups such as manufacturing councils.
Our company, Sila, launched training partnerships at our plant in Moses Lake, Washington, with two local educational institutions to build valuable skills that students can bring to employment opportunities across the industry. This partnership includes direct investment into both schools, commitments on program development, and plant internships.
The early applicants we’ve seen at our Moses Lake facility demonstrate that there is a strong interest in manufacturing careers across a broad spectrum of people. The Sila Moses Lake Plant has already hired two Instrumentation & Electrical graduates this year from the local community college program to support the commissioning and startup of the facility. For young people just beginning to explore their career options, opportunities like this are a chance to get involved with innovative technologies that significantly impact day-to-day life.
MxD's Curriculum and Pathways Integrating Technology and Learning skill development program represents another collaboration between public and private sectors in developing the new manufacturing workforce. The program offers courses and certifications aimed at preparing the workforce for future innovations by addressing the anticipated worker shortage and providing training in advanced manufacturing technologies.
Boeing has adopted a similar model to train students in advanced aeronautical engineering and maintenance in partnership with Mesa Community College. Its program provides students with an industry-recognized credential and is an example of how public funding can support workforce development in the aerospace industry.
Supporting the future of American manufacturing
The clean energy transition presents a critical opportunity to revitalize American manufacturing and strengthen our domestic industrial base. To fully capitalize on this potential, we must invest not only in physical infrastructure but also in developing a highly skilled workforce through innovative public-private partnerships and educational programs. By fostering collaboration among industry, government and educational institutions, we can create a robust talent pipeline that will drive innovation, enhance economic resilience and secure America's leadership in the clean energy economy of the future.
