This year, we've cherished the time and space offered to first commemorate clean energy trailblazers and social justice leaders during Black History Month and the opportunity to celebrate women in the clean energy movement during Women's History Month in March.
The solar industry has the highest percentage of women in the renewable energy sector, with women comprising more than half of new clean energy workers in the latest United States Energy & Employment Report. That percentage is only possible because of purposeful effort by leaders in the industry who refused to stand by when a report showed that women made up only 28% of the solar industry in 2017. Despite facing many obstacles and inequalities in the workforce, these women persevered. Additionally, the imaginative and inventive minds of many women inventors brought us some of our most transformative advancements that have allowed solar to progress as successfully as it has for decades.
One of the inspirational figures we would like to spotlight this month is Maria Telkes, known by many as "The Sun Queen." Maria was a Hungarian-born American physical chemist who invented a solar-powered water desalination machine to make saltwater drinkable for U.S. soldiers during World War II. As her career progressed, she went on to develop the solar-powered oven and worked closely with the U.S. Department of Energy to build the very first solar-powered home in 1980. During her lifetime, she registered more than 20 patents — almost all dedicated to re-imagining energy using the sun's power. Maria's exploration of the many facets of everyday life can be made more sustainable through renewable energy inspires others to join the fight against climate change.
Solar energy is a limitless resource. However, we must continue implementing innovative ways to make it inclusive and accessible to everyone.
As we celebrate the great minds behind solar and their innovative ideas, we can't help but notice the parallels with the Spring season! Spring brings forth new light, momentum, and, of course, cherry blossoms. It also brings longer days, full of sunlight, producing more solar credits on your PEPCO bill than you've seen all winter.
To learn more about how you can monitor your SharePower™ solar credits throughout the year, contact Groundswell's Customer Support Team at customerservice@groundswell.org or (202) 505-3051.