The Clean Energy industry is among the fastest-growing sectors in the economy in the United States and worldwide. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that, by 2026, global renewable electricity capacity will rise more than 60% from 2020 levels to over 4,800 GW–the equivalent to the current total global power capacity of fossil fuels and nuclear combined. That breathtaking level of growth means the sector needs millions of new workers–people to install solar panels, build wind turbines, develop software to run energy storage systems, manufacture electric vehicles, and do thousands of other jobs. The IEA estimates that to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the world will need to create or move 30 million clean energy jobs by 2030.

The clean energy industry is a fast-paced, results-focused industry–that pace and mission are one of the factors that attracted me to join the sector when I completed my service in the Navy. Of the 30 million new jobs worldwide created within a decade, the IEA estimates that around 60% of these new jobs will need some degree of training beyond higher education levels. In my decade-plus working in solar and energy storage, I’ve found the skills I learned in the Navy have been instrumental in my career–and I believe that the clean energy industry would benefit significantly from hiring veterans as we enter this period of massive growth.

The skills and qualities necessary to succeed in the military are exactly what the clean energy industry needs.

Leadership. The military teaches people leadership. Many are responsible for managing and training staff at the highest levels–and under extreme stress. Veterans have had to learn to delegate, give clear instructions, provide feedback, and lead by example.

Problem-Solving. The military requires problem-solving to succeed. When I served on a surface destroyer, minor and big problems would occur daily that needed to be solved. I know the same is true across all the branches.

Stress Management. The term ‘solar coaster’ is well known shorthand for the stress and unpredictability of the PV sector. That same level of stress is present in all aspects of the clean energy industry. Service members have experience working calmly and carefully in high-stress, fast-paced situations. The stressors of most clean energy jobs – such as tight deadlines and quick decisions– are more easily handled by people with that experience.

Loyal. Loyalty is prized within the military–loyalty to your unit, branch, and country. Loyalty is critical to teamwork and working together to accomplish shared goals. Loyalty is one of the most significant benefits of hiring veteran employees.

Goal-Oriented. Veterans are accustomed to being responsible for achieving goals and helping their co-workers do the same. Those of us working in the clean energy industry know that setting goals and developing strategies to accomplish them is integral to being effective in this sector.

Quick Learners. When I was in the Navy, I needed to learn something new almost daily. Sometimes that would be learning a new technology or system–and sometimes, that would mean learning how to deal with a new problem or issue. One of the benefits of hiring veteran employees is that they are accustomed to completing rigorous training programs. As a result, veterans have needed to be fast learners, need to know how to follow instructions, and have been forced to be adaptable.

Starting in High School with NJROTC (Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps) and continuing through college, I have spent more than a decade in some type of military training–followed by the ongoing training I received daily during my service in the Navy on the USS O’Kane out of Pearl Harbor, that training and experience has served me exceptionally well in my subsequent career working in clean energy. There are more than eight million working-age veterans in the United States that have received that same training that would provide the clean energy industry a massive boost. As companies hire to meet the challenge of the clean energy transition, a pool of millions of veterans are ready, willing, and able to take on the challenge.