Westchester County is all-in on clean energy, but one of its biggest challenges is finding enough qualified workers to fill jobs. The county, along with private-sector organizations, is preparing workers of all ages and experiences to take these interesting and well-paying jobs.
Clean Energy Jobs and Resource Fair
The Westchester County Office of Economic Development, Sustainable Westchester, and New Yorkers for Clean Power hold a twice-annual Clean Energy Jobs and Resource Fair. The event has proven very successful in matching prospective employees with employers and promoting clean-energy training programs.
“There are a lot of clean-energy solutions providers in the county —for example, heat pumps, solar panels, wind turbines. We surveyed employers and they all said their number-one challenge was hiring people at all levels and education,” says Bridget Gibbons, director of economic development for the county.
Over the last few years, she has focused on growing this sector, in partnership with Sustainable Westchester, and established the Clean Energy Accelerator Program, comprised of key stakeholders in the county. “We can help these providers grow, they can provide more solutions, and that’s all good for our environments and ecosystem,” Gibbons says.
There have been two job fairs so far. The first, in April 2024, attracted more than 150 attendees. The most recent, in November, drew more than 300 job seekers and about 40 employers and resource providers, including wraparound services for factors that “prevent people from getting jobs, like childcare, transportation, resume writing” and skills certification, Gibbons says. “We had great results. We know employers were really satisfied and attendees really loved it.”
Stay up to date on the next Clean Energy Jobs and Resource Fair here.
Sustainable Westchester
Sustainable Westchester is a nonprofit organization that helps communities and individuals access clean energy opportunities by connecting job seekers with training and employers.
Along with the jobs fair above, the organization offers several other programs to help find and train employees, says Yasmin Najjar, program manager, Environmental Justice & Workforce Development. One involves a partnership with BOCES and the Healthy Home Academy, which offers training in the skills and knowledge needed to build clean, sustainable homes. This collaboration links job seekers with a variety of training programs and employers.
Another program offers a presentation to middle and high schools about clean energy opportunities. Called “Working for Change: Clean Energy Careers,” the presentation showcases the growing clean energy sector and the prospects of high-paying careers. In partnership with New Yorkers for Clean Power, the presentation covers the science behind the climate crisis, New York’s 2019 Climate Act that is accelerating clean energy transition, the pathways available to clean energy jobs, and resources for students to use.
The demonstration can be delivered in an assembly setting, in a classroom or via zoom, Najjar says, and can be customized to meet teachers’ specific curriculum and timeframes.
Other opportunities are available through Sustainable Westchester’s partnerships with clean energy stakeholders through the Clean Energy Accelerator Working Group. Learn more here.
Finally, Sustainable Westchester runs its Grid Rewards Program. Westchester schools and students can reduce carbon emissions and earn money by tracking and lowering their energy usage. The New Rochelle City School District earned nearly $24,000 through Grid Rewards during summer 2023.
Along with saving money, the program “helps students develop leadership skills in clean energy,” Najjar says. “It empowers students to play a role and advocate for clean energy.”
Willdan Clean Energy Academy and Transportation Electrification Program
Offered through Soulful Synergy, the Willdan Clean Energy Academy’s Small Commercial Energy Auditing Training (SCEAT) course is a free 60-hour advanced-level course designed to prepare students with real-world, technical knowledge that matches the skills gaps that employment partners are noting. The course teaches the skills to help customers with standard technology upgrades (lighting, for instance) and prepares students for various nationally recognized certifications.
All trainings are free to community members, funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and private funding. “NYSERDA has high targets and goals for minority and underserved populations,” says Soulful Synergy co-founder Dwayne Norris. “There is a big need in this industry for people who know how to manage the process, the paperwork, the data.”
More than 70% of the Willdan Academy’s job seekers get jobs, with pay in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, depending on education and experience, he says.
Soulful Synergy’s transportation electrification program is a free program for state residents who are already employed, working directly or indirectly on electric vehicle charging equipment (EVCE) installations or similar projects. Eligible participants will have the training costs fully subsidized by NYSERDA.
“The goal is to train incumbent workers in some adjacent industries — property managers, electrical engineers — to prepare them for what’s coming with EV installation,” Norris says. The three-module course is offered in person and virtually.
“Our advisory board includes people in the industry, and we keep our trainings realistic and grounded to what industries are looking for,” says co-founder Alejandro Alvarez. “We try to keep ourselves aligned with the currents in the industry.”
Related: This Indeed Partnership Offers Career Development Opportunities in Westchester
