Women Shaping the Energy Industry and Energy Policy

March is Women’s History Month, so we want to take a look at the important role women play in shaping energy policy. As more women enter the energy industry, they are helping to drive innovation and sustainability as never before.

• Women in the Energy Industry.  Groups like the Association of Women in Energy are bringing together women to network and facilitate peer-to-peer learning.  Their goal is to “advance, educate, and enhance the professions of women involved in the comprehensive energy field”
• Women in Government.  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) showcases some of its most talented female employees on their Web page Women @ Energy and has posted a number of reports and publications about women and girls in the energy industry. 
• Women Around the World.  The DOE, along with the MIT Energy Initiative, also sponsored last year’s Women in Clean Energy Symposium, a part of the Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) initiative, in order to honor women who are helping to drive innovation and sustainability in the energy sector.  C3E partners include the governments of Australia, Denmark, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Women in Michigan.  Our state’s two largest energy providers, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, were both recognized by Professional Women’s Magazine as among the nation’s “Top Energy, Gas and Oil Companies” for their commitment to creating opportunities for women in energy in their companies, among their network of suppliers, and within the industry.

  Female entrepreneurs are also playing a big role in helping Michigan meet its renewable energy goals, with groups like the Michigan Women of Wind Energy leading the way.

Michigan’s Energy Future depends not only on the right policies, but the right people.  Women are a vital part of our energy future as Michigan works to meet our state’s growing and changing energy needs.