Watch scenes from the Minorities in Energy Initiative, and hear remarks from Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, in the video above. | Video by Matty Greene.
LEARN MORE
- More on the new Minorities in Energy Initiative via the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity blog.
- View President Obama's Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation.
For the United States to stay competitive in the global clean energy economy and effectively address the challenges of climate change, we need to draw upon all the talent available in this country.
That’s the key motivation behind the Minorities in Energy Initiative, a new program launched during the Energy Department’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. Moving forward, this new initiative will strive to ensure that our energy workforce more fully reflects the diversity and strengths of the country.
Historically, minorities and women have been vastly underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields that drive the energy sector. In the U.S., Hispanics, African Americans and American Indians make up 24 percent of the overall workforce, yet only account for 9 percent of the country’s science and engineering workforce. The Minorities in Energy Initiative seeks to reverse this troubling trend by working to inspire underrepresented Americans to pursue careers in energy and supporting their advancement into leadership positions.
Hear remarks from Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on the launch of Minorities in Energy by watching the video above and check back with us on Energy.gov for updates on the new initiative as it continues to evolve.
As always, share your comments with us on Minorities in Energy, and other Energy Department programs, on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and via email: newmedia@hq.doe.gov.
