Oklahoma workers have skills to lead its energy transition

Labor Day is a chance to recognize the people whose skills and hard work keep America moving. In Oklahoma, that means the workers who build, operate and maintain the energy systems that power our homes, businesses and industries — and who will help determine what comes next. Oklahoma has long been an energy-producing state. Oil and natural gas have supported generations of workers and communities, while the state's strong wind resources have made it a national leader in wind energy. As the energy economy evolves, Oklahoma has an opportunity to build on that expertise while creating new opportunities in renewable energy, transmission, energy storage and other emerging technologies. Oklahoma also brings a valuable workforce advantage to this transition. The state's long history of energy production, manufacturing, construction and heavy industry has produced generations of workers experienced in operating equipment, developing infrastructure and working safely in demanding environments. Those skills can translate into new opportunities as the country expands clean energy and seeks reliable domestic supplies of the minerals and materials needed for electrification and advanced technologies. Those capabilities matter as the country electrifies. Electricity demand is growing as homes, businesses, transportation and industry use more electricity, while data centers and artificial intelligence create new demands on the grid. Meeting that demand will require more than technology. It will require people — electricians, engineers, line workers, construction workers, equipment operators, mechanics and others who can build and maintain the infrastructure. Oklahoma's energy workforce is already adapting to a changing economy. Workers are developing wind projects, expanding transmission and maintaining the existing energy system, while traditional oil and gas skills remain essential. The opportunity is to make sure today's workers — and the next generation — are prepared for where the industry is going. That means investing in more than four-year degrees. Oklahoma needs apprenticeships, vocational programs, community colleges and on-the-job training alongside its universities. Institutions such as Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma and the state's community colleges can help develop the technical expertise Oklahoma will need as its energy economy evolves. The transition to cleaner energy should not be framed as a choice between workers and the environment. Done well, it can create new opportunities for both. History shows that technological change reshapes work. The automobile displaced some occupations while creating new jobs in manufacturing, transportation, construction, and repair. The energy transition will bring similar changes. Some jobs will decline; others will grow. Oklahoma's challenge is ensuring its workers are ready to move with the economy rather than be left behind. That also means making it possible to build. Predictable regulations, efficient permitting, and timely transmission and energy infrastructure can encourage companies to invest, hire locally and train workers. Oklahoma does not have to choose between its energy heritage and its clean-energy future. The people who have powered and built Oklahoma for generations can help build what comes next. That may be the most important Labor Day message of all: Technology does not build an economy by itself. People do. As Oklahoma's energy system changes, its workers should not simply watch the future arrive. They should be the ones building it. Susan Atkinson is a writer on energy issues with Citizens Climate Lobby, dedicated to national bipartisan legislative climate solutions. (Editor's note: The views expressed in this column are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Oklahoman.)