Past, Present, and Future: Celebrating Black History in the Solar and Storage Industry

Black history is foundational to the past, present, and future of the U.S. solar and storage industry.  

As we celebrate Black History Month, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is focused on uplifting the work of Black leaders, delivering resources to improve representation, and advocating for policies that address the inequality in our energy systems.  

From the early days of clean energy, Black innovators played an important role in improving energy technologies. Energy pioneers like Lewis Latimer paved the way for more distributed energy sources and Black scientists like Annie Easley worked to optimize solar projects and bring down the costs.  

As the solar industry has evolved, Black leaders have led the transition to clean, affordable solar energy. For example, Kristal Hansley of WeSolar Energy was the first Black woman to found a community solar company and now operates projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Black-owned solar businesses and Black-led solar organizations are growing quickly too, helping to create community and serve underrepresented groups throughout the industry.  

Today, Black American are shaping every aspect of our clean energy future and delivering for communities around the country.

However, there is still a lot of work to do in the clean energy industry.  

To better address the inequality in our energy systems, SEIA has woven equity into our state and federal advocacy work. We’ve developed key policy priorities around environmental justice that focus on promoting health, wealth and educational opportunities and building a clean energy economy that all communities can participate in and benefit from.  

To encourage inclusivity and create an environment where Black leaders can thrive, SEIA has developed tools and trainings that help companies improve their inclusion efforts and identify Black suppliers in the supply chain.  

As Black History Month comes to a close, we encourage all those in the energy industry to consider the justice implications of their work and how they contribute to an equitable and just clean energy future for all.  

Celebrating the History of Black Energy Innovators 

Annie Easley was a computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist at @NASA.

Easley was a pioneer in code development, helping optimize the impact of clean energy projects. #BlackHistoryMonth https://t.co/U52OuyBo3W

— Solar and Storage Industry (@SEIA) February 14, 2024

Uplifting Black Excellence in the Solar and Storage Industry 

Black entrepreneurs are helping to bring #solar savings to all. @KHansley_ of @WeSolar_Energy is the first Black woman in the country to own a community solar company, delivering projects across the Mid-Atlantic. #BlackHistoryMonth https://t.co/jdooLCFPYu

— Solar and Storage Industry (@SEIA) February 9, 2024

Delivering Resource to Improve Representation 

SEIA’s DEIJ Certification Program helps companies institute effective inclusion practices — and helps the solar and storage industry build a more equitable workforce.

Read more about the impact and evolution of SEIA’s DEIJ Certification Program. #BlackHistoryMonth 
➡️… pic.twitter.com/lcLPAA1ZLs

— Solar and Storage Industry (@SEIA) February 20, 2024

Companies with diverse ownership work in every aspect of the #solar and #storage industry. 

This #BlackHistoryMonth, SEIA’s Diverse Suppliers Database is helping companies identify and engage diverse-owned businesses throughout the supply chain. https://t.co/7POAJD1d4p

— Solar and Storage Industry (@SEIA) February 12, 2024

Advocating for All 

The transition to clean energy represents a generational opportunity to reverse decades of environmental racism. SEIA has developed environmental justice priorities around health, wealth and education that we’re pursuing at the state and federal levels ⬇️https://t.co/ls3WP0GbC6

— Solar and Storage Industry (@SEIA) February 27, 2024