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New York's clean energy future has no shortage of ambition. Billions of dollars have been committed to electrification projects. EV charging stations are becoming a policy priority. New regulations are pushing property owners to prepare for an increasingly electric world. From the outside, the transition appears well underway. But Richard Sajiun sees a challenge that rarely makes headlines.
"The industry is focused on what needs to be built," he says. "Not enough people are talking about who's going to build it."
As CEO and Master Electrician of Sajiun Electric Inc., Sajiun has spent decades managing complex electrical projects throughout New York. His concern isn't about technology or investment. It's about workforce readiness.
The clean energy transition depends on skilled labor. Every EV charger, upgraded electrical panel, and modernized facility requires licensed professionals with specialized training. Yet across the industry, experienced electricians are retiring faster than they can be replaced.
For a profession built on hands-on learning and mentorship, that trend presents a serious challenge. Sajiun knows this firsthand. His family business has operated since 1965, evolving from residential projects into a respected government contractor known for handling complex federal work. Throughout that growth, one lesson has remained clear: skilled electricians aren't created overnight. The profession requires years of practical experience, problem-solving, and technical training.
The timing couldn't be more critical. New York City's Local Law 55 requires parking facilities to progressively add EV charging infrastructure over the coming years. Thousands of electrical upgrades will be needed across garages, commercial properties, and public facilities. At the same time, state and federal programs are investing billions into clean-energy initiatives designed to speed up adoption. The momentum is undeniable. The workforce, however, is under pressure.
According to Sajiun, success will ultimately depend on whether enough qualified professionals are available to execute the work safely and efficiently. "All the planning and funding ultimately depend on licensed electricians executing the work," he says. "You can create policies and programs, but someone still has to install these systems safely and correctly."
For Richard Sajiun, the solution begins with long-term investment in people.
At Sajiun Electric, new employees learn through direct mentorship, gaining experience alongside seasoned electricians on real-world projects involving public infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and government buildings. It's a slower process than rapid hiring, but Sajiun believes it's the only sustainable path forward.
"Electrical expertise takes years to build," he says. "Understanding systems, safety, and the responsibility of powering critical infrastructure cannot be rushed." As New York races toward an electrified future, Sajiun hopes more attention will be given to the workforce behind the transition. While funding can accelerate progress and policies can set goals, neither can replace the skilled professionals who turn those plans into reality.
And in the end, New York's EV future won't be powered by mandates alone; it will be powered by people.
