When ‘Electrify Everything’ Means Quitting Your Desk Job and Getting Your Hands Dirty

Nate Johnson didn’t plan to switch careers. But since he did he’s gone from just writing about the energy transition, to actually making it happen. In this episode, find out what it’s like to become an electrician — and the challenges that could be holding back the decarbonization of our grid. And hear from one company, Solar Holler, that came up with a surprising solution to the issues they were facing.

Guests:

Nate Johnson, Trainee Electrician

Dan Conant, CEO of Solar Holler

Calls to Action:

Become an electrician! Here's where to start:

• National Electrical Contractors Association
• Electrical Training Alliance
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• Electrical School Apprenticeships

Already an electrician? Become Nate’s instructor at the Peralta Community Colleges. Here’s where to apply: 

• https://peraltaccd.peopleadmin.com/postings/5588
• https://peraltaccd.peopleadmin.com/postings/5974

Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Meg Driscoll. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis, Anna Ladd and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Matthew Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard with original music from Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode was Stephanie Abramson. 

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