In light of the success of our transportation panel at the December meeting, we’ll be mounting another panel discussion at our next gathering, this one on the development of a clean energy workforce.
Building a clean energy workforce is critical to drive the New York’s transition to a low-carbon, reliable energy system, at the same time powering economic growth, creating millions of high-quality jobs, and fostering energy independence. It ensures a sustainable future by meeting the rising demand for renewable infrastructure—solar, wind, and storage—while offering equitable, well-paying career paths.
Clean energy jobs are expanding at twice the rate of overall U.S. employment, and they offer pathways to the middle class with competitive salaries.
Focused training initiatives create opportunities for diverse, underserved, and marginalized communities to access stable, family-sustaining, and often unionized jobs.
We have a stellar panel for this session. Members include Aloja Airewele,Energy Warriors Program Leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tompkins County; Melissa Suchodolski, President of USC Builds; and Christopher R. Sponn, Executive Director, Tompkins County Workforce Development.
Dawn Montanye, environmental team leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension – Tompkins County, will moderate the panel.
The panelists will address the following questions:
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How is your organization contributing to the creation of a regional clean energy work force?
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What’s worked well and what’s not worked so well?
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How are you collaborating with each other and with other efforts in the community?
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What do you see as the main challenges to the success of these efforts?
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What new and innovative projects are in the works?
Be sure to attend the 2030 District quarterly meeting on March 18 to participate in this important discussion about energy workforce development in our community.