For the companies working to find alternatives to fossil fuels for energy and industry one of the biggest challenges is finding people to do the job.
Manufacturers, energy companies, and even research laboratories themselves point to the skills-gap and shortage of trained labor as one of the main obstacles to their work.
Which is why the Department of Energy is announcing a fresh $24 million infusion into workforce development programs that can help build workforce capacity by pulling from the technical colleges, apprenticeship programs, and trade schools that span the US.
The new funding builds on a previous $40 million commitment to create Industrial Assessment Centers at technical schools, community colleges, and with union apprenticeship programs that are already training a new generation of workers.
The solicitation is being managed by the DOE Partnership Intermediary, ENERGYWERX, who will help applicants that don’t have much experience with DOE funding programs.
The funds could be used for a range of costs including curriculum development, recruitment and professional development and other expenses. As part of the program, applicants can work with industrial partners,
This expansion of workforce development from the DOE builds on the legacy of the Department’s four decades of experience, which has already provided more than 21,000 energy assessments at SMMs, which comprise more than 90% of the nation’s manufacturing entities. The industrial assessments have led to up to $150,000 in potential annual energy savings opportunities for every manufacturer assessed, according to the DOE.
Through these programs, the Biden Administration is tackling two critical challenges facing the energy transition: the skills gap and workforce development. By investing in education and training that cater to the evolving demands of the clean energy economy, these initiatives are vital steps towards ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of the global shift towards sustainable energy solutions.