Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Shaping a more equal future

The events in 2020 ignited discussion among Longroad Founders and in 2020 Longroad formed a diversity, equity, and inclusion “DEI” working group, open to any interested employee to join this effort. Our rationale for embarking on this effort is as follows:

More workforce diversity provides greater perspective in solving problems
Improve employee attraction and retention: employees and prospective employees are very interested in social topics and want to work in a place where action is being taken
Having a commitment/ability to provide access to low-cost renewable energy for low-income families is a competitive advantage
Most importantly, it’s the right thing to do

In addition to establishing the DEI working group, we have joined other clean energy industry leaders in a stand against racism and signed on to the CEO Action Pledge.

We embrace our responsibility to build and promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce and drive change where we live and operate. We look forward to a continuous journey of reflection and improvement and intentional action.

Diversity

Diversity is the presence of differences, both inherent (traits you are born with) and acquired (what you gain from your unique life experiences).

Equity

Equity is providing all employees the tools and opportunities necessary to thrive at work. Longroad recognizes that everyone has different requirements to achieve success because each of us has been shaped by our unique background and experiences.

Inclusion

An organizational environment that enables everyone at Longroad to be included and valued for their unique perspectives and competencies, resulting in a feeling of belonging.

Longroad Energy is proactively making a difference

2022 DEI Strategic Goal Areas

Employee Awareness & Training

Longroad is committed to providing on-going training and awareness to employees to address biases and create a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. In 2021 we offered unconscious bias and psychological safety training to all employees.

Recruitment Diversity

Longroad is committed to increasing workplace diversity by expanding recruitment efforts related to talent pipeline, hiring a more diverse workforce, and advancing career opportunities.

Mentorship

Longroad is committed to developing a mentoring program with deliberate investment from senior leadership.

Business Partner Diversity

Longroad is committed to effectively and ethically sourcing services and materials from partners committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will actively seek out, qualify, and engage business partners from minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBT-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, historically underutilized, and Small Business Administration (SBA)-defined small businesses when possible.

Internships

Longroad will develop a sustainable program to help introduce underrepresented groups to careers in renewable energy through paid internships. In 2022 Longroad will be a corporate work study partner for Cristo Rey High School Boston hosting work study students. Longroad will create two paid internship positions with the goal of increasing representation of historically underrepresented groups in the fields of finance, engineering and renewable energy.

Community Engagement & Outreach

Longroad is committed to the communities in which we live and work and will include diverse groups in our outreach efforts. Longroad will work to ensure our projects create opportunities for learning and growth for underrepresented groups.

Clean Energy Leaders Stand Against Racism

Longroad joined dozens of renewable energy companies making commitments to advance racial justice, including our own company-specific actions. As leaders in our energy industry, we remain committed to the fight for racial justice and equality. The need for continuous focus and action in order to dismantle racism and enact real change remains. We recognize only by acting together – as companies, as employees and as communities – will racial justice and equality be achieved. As leaders in our energy industry, we take pride in our mission to make the world a better place to live. The responsible, safer and sustainable future we all strive towards can only exist with the eradication of racism.

With nearly 2,000 other companies, we’re taking action on diversity and inclusion

CEO Action seeks to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion within workplaces. Longroad CEO, Paul Gaynor, has taken the CEO Action Pledge which outlines a specific set of actions that will be taken to cultivate a trusting environment where all ideas are welcomed, and employees feel comfortable and empowered to have discussions about diversity and inclusion.

RENEWABLES FORWARD was created as a clear and concrete response to the need for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the renewable and clean energy industry and across the U.S.

Longroad has joined RENEWABLES FORWARD as a member and agrees to:

Assess diversity and inclusion in our industry to raise awareness around inequality and benchmark progress toward a more diverse and inclusive industry.
Publicly support the mission and goals of the organization.
Record, publish, and track internal corporate diversity and contribute to industry benchmarking efforts as they fit within the framework of Renewables Forward.
Attend monthly meetings of the Leadership collective.
Actively participate and respond to organizational needs and requests as they may come up.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Justice.

Longroad is proud to participate in the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA’s) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) program. The program was designed using SEIA’s Diversity Best Practices Guide and other evidence-based materials, and evaluates companies making progress and taking actionable steps towards DEIJ. SEIA’s DEIJ Certification program received the DE&I Champion Gold Level Cleanie Award in 2021. The Cleanie Awards is the #1 awards program celebrating people and brands driving the clean energy economy.