Snapshots

Diversity and Equity in the Offshore Wind Power Workforce

A number of new collective bargaining agreements between contractors and unions – known as project labour agreements (PLAs) – related to renewables have been adopted by key actors in the US offshore wind power industry. In 2022, Ørsted, one of the world's largest offshore wind energy developers, entered into a National Offshore Wind Agreement with US building trades unions, in part to diversify the company's renewable energy workforce and to incorporate social and equity considerations into its work and hiring. The agreement sets a standard for wages, local training programmes, and workplace health and safety. In addition, Work Equity Committees are established for each project to prioritise hiring women, people of colour, local environmental justice communities and gender non-conforming people.

Other companies that have entered into or are negotiating PLAs include Dominion Energy, Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind. Vineyard Wind´s PLA includes hiring targets for women and people of colour, while Mayflower Wind is committed to hiring a diverse workforce and paying prevailing wages.

Source: See endnote 36 for this module.