While the rest of America struggles to fill the growing demand for clean energy jobs, veterans are quietly dominating the sector. At 9% of the national clean energy workforce, they’re crushing it compared to their 5% representation in regular jobs. That’s not luck. That’s what happens when people who actually know how to work show up.
The Midwest gets it. They’ve got 10.8% veteran participation in clean energy, with Indiana leading at 12.5%. Michigan’s playing the numbers game differently – they’ve got 13,535 veterans in clean energy jobs. More than anyone else. These states figured out what corporate America keeps missing: military training corresponds perfectly to solar panels and wind turbines.
Over 20,000 veterans work in solar alone. They’re installing, manufacturing, selling, managing – basically running the show at 9% of the total solar workforce. Regular economy? Veterans only make up 6.6% there. Funny how industries that need real skills attract people who have them.
Veterans dominate solar at 9% while barely hitting 6.6% elsewhere. Real skills attract real workers.
The government’s actually doing something right for once. Solar Ready Vets Network creates a pipeline from military bases to solar farms. The fellowship program connects service members in the process of moving to civilian life to leadership roles because, shocker, people who led troops can lead companies. The Department of Energy funds it, IREC supports hiring, and companies get workers who show up on time and know what safety protocols mean. The program delivers 6-week training right on military bases, teaching solar installation and project management before soldiers even finish their service.
Military skills match clean energy needs like they were designed for each other. Complex systems? Check. Safety compliance? Obviously. Leadership and problem-solving? That’s literally Tuesday in the military. Employers want discipline and adaptability. Veterans have both in spades. Jeff Danielson, CGA’s VP of Advocacy and a veteran himself, just got recognized as a 2024 Notable Military Veteran Executive, proving that military leadership translates directly to clean energy success.
Clean energy jobs grew 4.2% in 2023. Double the overall employment growth. Traditional energy sectors can’t keep up, and neither can their hiring. With the renewable energy market forecast to triple by 2030, veterans are perfectly positioned to fill these critical roles. This isn’t some feel-good story about helping veterans. It’s about an industry that needs competent people finding a workforce that’s overqualified for most civilian jobs.
The barriers still exist – credential transfers, location mismatches, awareness gaps. But when Michigan alone employs over 13,000 veterans in clean energy, those excuses start looking pretty weak. Veterans aren’t just filling jobs. They’re building America’s energy future. Because someone has to.
References
- https://cleangridalliance.org/blog/189/veterans-in-clean-energy-serving-our-country-in-the-military-and-beyond
- https://seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-and-us-veterans/
- https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-report-shows-clean-energy-jobs-grew-more-twice-rate-overall-us-employment
- https://www.nrel.gov/state-local-tribal/state-employment-projection-support
- https://irecusa.org/our-work/veteran-resources/
