Low-Carbon Small Business and Post-COVID Recovery
Channel: eesionline
Date: 30/09/2020

More information at: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/093020workforce


Small business owners and employees have a unique role in building a low-carbon and climate resilient economy. Many small businesses have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 downturn, especially in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. Speakers discussed both the persistent challenges faced by small businesses in low-carbon sectors and the additional problems brought on by COVID-19. Speakers also emphasized suggestions for the road ahead that will enable their companies to continue to grow a workforce centered on climate solutions.

    Leticia Colon de Mejias
    Owner, Energy Efficiencies Solutions; Policy Co-Chair, Building Performance Association
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Leticia_Colon_de_Mejias_093020.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/e8j-YJdbWZY?t=4m7s

    Stuart Davies
    Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC)
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Stuart_Davies_093020.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/e8j-YJdbWZY?t=16m9s

    Jessica Cahail
    Product Manager, Raster Foundry and Temperate, Azavea
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Jessica_Cahail_093020.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/e8j-YJdbWZY?t=29m10s

    Question & Answer Session
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/e8j-YJdbWZY?t=47m2s

Leticia Colon de Mejias, the owner of Energy Efficiencies Solutions and the Policy Co-Chair for the Building Performance Association, discussed how she is working to address one of the foremost challenges in the energy efficiency industry—a trained workforce. Stuart Davies, Chief Executive Officer of the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), shared his experience as a small business leader in the marine renewable energy sector, which is poised to grow with investments in the research, development, and deployment of these innovative technologies. Jessica Cahail, Product Manager at Azavea, discussed how climate adaptation and resilience support tools help fill knowledge gaps in the workforce. All speakers described how their work has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This briefing was part of EESI's "Workforce Wednesdays" series, a series of online briefings on workforce development and policies and programs that can support a low-carbon recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis. Speakers discussed major challenges faced in each area and solutions providing economic and environmental benefits to communities across the country.