Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that the New York Power Authority has approved $13 million in funding to support clean energy workforce development across the state. The investment is intended to prepare more than 450 New Yorkers for careers within the state’s expanding clean energy economy.
The funding includes $3 million designated for six specific workforce development programs to provide training, job placement resources, and technical skills. Energy Infrastructure Partners will receive $520,000 to support building operations and energy efficiency training for the Settlement House, a New York City-based nonprofit. The Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 210 will receive $500,000 to strengthen pre-apprenticeship pathways in the Hudson Valley and $540,000 for a certification-based pre-apprenticeship program in Buffalo.
Additional recipients of the $3 million allocation include the Northland Workforce Training Center, which was awarded $500,000 to support HVAC and building maintenance certificate programs at its Clean Tech Lab. Renaissance Technical Institute will receive $500,000 to train participants in energy-efficient systems and electrification, while SUNY Canton was granted $440,000 for credit-bearing micro-credentials in heat pumps, drone operations, and logistics.
The remaining $10 million will support training and retraining initiatives through the New York State Department of Labor. Of that amount, $8 million is allocated to the Growing the Clean Energy Workforce Training Initiative, which provides grants for the development or expansion of training programs. The remaining $2 million will fund the Renewable Energy Training Initiative to assist workers transitioning into clean energy roles through upskilling, reskilling, and essential support services.
New York currently has nearly 185,000 clean energy jobs. This funding aligns with a state budget commitment to provide up to $25 million annually for clean energy workforce training to ensure the state’s infrastructure can be maintained and expanded by a skilled workforce.
