The US Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated a significant $24m in funding to create clean energy jobs.
This funding, sourced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is tailored to enhance training opportunities for clean energy jobs that do not require a four-year degree.
The funding injection will primarily expand the existing Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) network. This expansion will encompass various educational institutions, including union training programmes, community colleges, and trade schools.
The IACs play a vital role in advancing the US’ objectives by assisting small and midsized manufacturers (SMMs) in identifying avenues to reduce costs and enhance productivity.
How will the initiative create clean energy jobs?
The enhanced IAC network will pursue two primary objectives to increase clean energy jobs:
- Career training: Providing training to students and incumbent workers for careers in clean energy, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing that do not necessitate a traditional four-year degree; and
- Support for SMMs: Assisting small and midsized manufacturers in saving costs, minimising energy waste, and improving overall productivity.
Under the solicitation, the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC), in collaboration with the Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE), will extend funding to diverse workforce training institutions.
These include community and technical colleges, trade schools, union training programmes, industrial apprenticeships, and related internships.
DOE’s Partnership Intermediary, ENERGYWERX, will manage the solicitation process to assist applicants, particularly those with limited experience in accessing DOE funding.
Awarded funds can be utilised for various purposes, including curriculum development, instructor recruitment, student wages, and equipment procurement.
Tracks for application
Applicants can apply under three distinct tracks:
- Planning and capacity building: One-year awards of up to $200,000 for institutions to devise strategies for establishing future IACs.
- Execution and scale: Three-year awards ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 for existing career training programmes to transition into IACs.
- Consortia and cohort: Three-year awards between $4,000,000 and $7,000,000 for collaborative initiatives to establish multiple IACs simultaneously.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to forge partnerships with existing and prospective IACs, community organisations, workforce development boards, and industry stakeholders.
Such collaborations are expected to yield superior workforce development outcomes and enhance technical assistance for SMMs.
Jennifer Granholm, The US Secretary of Energy, commented: “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.”
The DOE’s latest funding initiative underscores a concerted effort to nurture the green energy workforce to meet the nation’s goal of generating 100% clean electricity by 2035.
