The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $24 million in funding to support workforce training programs. Made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the funding will focus on training students and incumbent workers for clean energy jobs that do not require a four-year degree. The funding is an expansion of the existing Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) network, which will now feature additional union training programs, community colleges, and trade schools. According to the DOE, the program is designed to increase the clean energy workforce while small and midsized manufacturers save costs and increase productivity by reducing energy waste. The DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) will fund a range of workforce training institutions, with additional contributions coming from the Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE). The funding can be used for curriculum development, instructor recruitment and professional development, student wages to support their provision of hands-on technical assistance at SMMs, supports to help students succeed, and equipment.
In a recent quote, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, “When it comes to building up the nation’s workforce, there is no doubt that a clean energy transition means developing new, exciting opportunities. More than half of the jobs created by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda won’t require college degrees—great news for anyone considering a career in the vast clean energy sector.”