About Us
Connections & Collaborations
Green Workforce Connect is bringing together job seekers, employers, and educators to support the growth of a highly trained clean energy and energy efficiency workforce with opportunities for all. In a time of rapid job growth in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields, we are raising awareness of these careers and making connections to link qualified job candidates with employment and training opportunities.
On our free, publicly available platform, employers will find resources to support their outreach to prospective job seekers. They are invited to connect with training providers and Registered Apprenticeship programs to support recruitment and retention goals. Job seekers, students, and contractors can learn about these growing industries and connect with opportunities in their area. Users can also connect with their local community partners and workforce development organizations to find more resources and opportunities for collaboration.
Green Workforce Connect is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), a national nonprofit organization that builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet.
Resources for Home Energy Performance and Weatherization
One of the industry sectors featured on Green Workforce Connect is home energy performance careers. This is part of an initiative to raise awareness about this growing industry and strengthen and diversify the weatherization workforce. Our work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) State and Community Energy Program’s (SCEP) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
Visit the Connect Now page to connect with local weatherization employers and training providers in your area. We are currently featuring organizations in nine states with more to be added soon!
We invite you to visit the resource hub to explore an extensive array of weatherization resources for employers, contractors, and job seekers. These resources are made possible in part by the contributions of our partners. An expert advisory group provided guidance and insight to help ensure that materials were tailored to support the needs of a wide range of communities, including those less represented in the industry. See the advisory group members below.
Clean Energy Apprenticeship Resources
IREC is contracted as the clean energy Industry Intermediary for Registered Apprenticeships through the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. Along with a diverse network of partners, IREC leads the Apprenticeships in Clean Energy (ACE) network, which provides no-cost technical assistance to help employers start or join a Registered Apprenticeship program.
Visit the Connect Now page to connect with apprenticeship programs in your area—whether you’re a job seeker looking to enroll in one or an employer looking to add or expand apprenticeship offerings to grow your workforce. Our Resource Hub includes many useful reports and toolkits to assist in this process.
Partners and Advisors
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. Its vision is a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. IREC develops and advances the regulatory reforms, technical standards, and workforce and community-based solutions needed to enable the streamlined integration of clean, distributed energy resources. IREC has been trusted for its independent clean energy expertise for over 40 years, since its founding in 1982.
Weatherization and Home Energy Performance Partners
IREC developed the weatherization resources on this platform in collaboration with leading national, state, and local partners; stakeholders in the federal Weatherization Assistance Program; community-based organizations; and a project Advisory Group. Explore our partners below.
Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI)
BPI is the nation’s premier standards development and credentialing organization for residential energy auditing and upgrade work helping agencies and program sponsors build, deploy, and expand successful energy efficiency retrofit and weatherization assistance programs.
National Association For State Community Services Programs (NASCSP)
NASCSP is the sole national association charged with advocating and enhancing the leadership role of States in the administration of the Weatherization Assistance Program.
National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)
NCAP provides technical assistance, training, and other resources to Community Action Agencies, nonprofit and public groups funded by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), a federal program that allocates funding to states to connect Americans to greater opportunity.
Slipstream
Through education and training, research, clean energy financing, and programs, Slipstream tests, delivers, and helps scale climate solutions for everyone as quickly and equitably as possible through partnerships with communities.
State of Wisconsin, Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR)
The Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) develops housing policy and offers a broad range of program assistance and funds to address homelessness and support affordable housing, public infrastructure, and economic development opportunities.
Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies (OKACAA)
OKACAA provides training and conferences for community action staff across the state, advocates for policies that benefit CAAs, staff, and clients at the state and federal level, and provides opportunities for CAA’s to meet and share best practices.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Providence and East Bay
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Providence and East Bay is a nonprofit focused on building affordable homes for families. In addition to new home construction and repairs, the chapter has a Contractor Incubator Initiative. This program trains aspiring contractors in both technical skills and business management.
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
ODOC’s job is to bring jobs and economic prosperity to Oklahoma. Through dynamic partnerships and innovative collaborations, we are building an environment that supports business growth and shared community prosperity with programs like weatherization.
Service Year Alliance
Service Year Alliance works to grow the over 75,000 service year opportunities (i.e. AmeriCorps, YouthBuild, Peace Corps, etc.) and equip the young people who serve with the skills needed to transition into green careers.
Clean Energy Center at Pennsylvania College
The Clean Energy Center has served as Pennsylvania’s primary resource for clean energy workforce training and technical assistance since 1985, offering hands-on residential and commercial energy efficiency, and solar trainings aligned with nationally recognized certifications.
Spartina Consulting
Spartina Consulting specializes in high-engagement, strength-based, inquiry-driven approaches to strategy, culture building, leadership development, and innovation to assist clients in growing and overcoming challenges through future-focused and solution-oriented approaches, like Appreciative Inquiry.
Clean Energy Apprenticeship Partners
IREC developed the apprenticeship resources on this platform in collaboration with our ACE Network partners. This partner team has a unique combination of experience in clean energy and registered apprenticeships.
Building Performance Association (BPA)
BPA is a nonprofit industry association for those working to make America’s homes more comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient. BPA helps employers design Registered Apprenticeship Program in the home performance/energy efficiency/weatherization industry and builds connections with training programs, workforce development boards, and other partners.
Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2)
The Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2) is accelerating the transition to carbon-free electricity through clean energy research and analysis. SI2 uses policy research, public education initiatives, and direct outreach to policymakers to explain the benefits of clean energy and develop pathways to widespread solar and storage use.
HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (CDAC)
CDAC’s Clean Energy Initiative secures funding and manpower to increase solar awareness, accessibility, and workforce training for students and residents in LMI communities surrounding HBCUs and other MSIs. By bringing Institutions together with community leaders and businesses, CDAC provides sustainable economic opportunities in those communities.
National Association of Workforce Boards
National Association of Workforce Boards represents and advocates for the nation’s more than 590 Workforce Development Boards. Learn how workforce boards meet the needs of job seekers, career-seekers, businesses, and communities.
Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE) Energy
The energy industry has a large and rapidly growing need for a skilled technical workforce, and this presents a current and future challenge for the two-year college community. CREATE Energy focuses on addressing the needs of energy faculty and programs nationwide.
Renewables Forward
An open, collaborative resource driving action within the clean energy industry for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. Renewables Forward supports DEI program planning, evaluation, measurement and transparency within workforce systems.
The Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation (IWSI) America
IWSI America is a workforce development organization that collaborates with enterprising businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Visit IWSI’s website to learn more about Registered Apprenticeships in clean energy fields.
Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation
Through the Arkansas Advanced Energy Apprenticeship Program, AAEF bridges the skills gap in the emerging advanced energy industry. AAEF helps employers design apprenticeships and access education programs to meet internal training, hiring, and retention needs, while also helping Arkansas’ talent connect with these opportunities.
Service Year Alliance
Service Year Alliance works to grow the over 75,000 service year opportunities (i.e. AmeriCorps, YouthBuild, Peace Corps, etc.) and equip the young people who serve with the skills needed to transition into green careers.
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade association for the solar and solar+storage industries. SEIA is leading the industry in coming together to build a more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and resilient solar+storage workforce. SEIA provides resources and connections for solar+ storage companies and partner organizations.
Weatherization Advisory Group
Working with a national Advisory Group helped us ensure that the weatherization and home energy performance materials incorporated on this site meet local community needs, resonate with varied audiences, and support the growth of this industry sector in a way that creates opportunities for everyone. We are deeply indebted to their contributions.
Mia M. Naseth-Phillips, Ed.D., PMP
Director, Programs for Innovation & Equity at Minnesota Department of Commerce
Mia oversees the Minnesota Department of Commerce Programs for Innovation & Equity, acquiring federal, state, and private funding for energy programs. She also provides statewide leadership in the areas of Inflation Reduction Act residential rebates programs.
Alfonso Nieves
Regional Advisor at Fox Blocks/TrueGrid
Alfonso is an industry expert in sustainable building products. He is also a community leader, committed to improving our lives through sustainable energy efficient construction.
Cornelious Richardson
Weatherization Director at Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority, Inc.
Cornelious is the Weatherization Assistance Program Coordinator and a Risk Management and Safety Committee Administrator for Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority, Inc. in Brunswick, Georgia. Cornelious currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Building Performance Institute (BPI).
Beck Moore
Chief Executive Officer at Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP)
As CEO at Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, Beck is devoted to examining intersectionality of the social determinants of health and identity to the correlation of poverty in Pennsylvania. He also speaks regularly about diversity, equity, inclusion, and workplace culture.
Maria Lewis
State Outreach Coordinator at Building Performance Association
In her role at the Building Performance Association (BPA), Maria collaborates with local stakeholders to create strong, resilient, and diverse workforces. Maria’s passion is providing people with the tools they need to make a better tomorrow for themselves and the next generation.
James Metoyer
Executive Director at EnerCity Collaborative (ECC)
As Executive Director of the Oregon-based nonprofit EnerCity Collaborative (ECC), James works with youth and adult construction training programs, CBOs, and other nonprofits to help professionals find careers in weatherization, residential energy auditing, deep-energy retrofitting, and net-zero building.
Derrick Meeking
Director of Workforce Development at Walker-Miller Energy Services
Derrick’s experience spans over 13 years and is rooted in a desire to improve the quality of life for historically disenfranchised people and marginalized communities through education, research, grassroots activism, and the promotion of innovative community economic development solutions.
Brian L. Harris
Housing Specialist at Community Action Program Committee Inc (CAPC)
Brian brings years of experience in construction, welding, building maintenance, irrigation repairs, and plumbing to the Weatherization Assistance Program where he focuses on making clients’ homes more energy efficient.
Richard Burbank
President and Founder at Evergreen Home Performance LLC
Richard is the founder of Evergreen Home Performance and serves as President, CEO, and Energy Advisor. He also serves on the Board of Efficiency First, a national home performance contractor trade group, and actively advocates for federal and state energy efficiency policy.
Daniel Alvalle
Pennsylvania State Director at CASA/CASA in Action
As a social worker and activist, Daniel leads CASA and its affiliated organization, CASA in Action, which together constitute the mid-Atlantic’s largest Latino and immigrant organization. He also leads social and economic advocacy on behalf of CASA’s 149,000 members.
Polly Edwards
Grants & Compliance Administrator and Emergency Manager at Caddo Nation of Oklahoma
Polly oversees the environmental staff and all grants awarded to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. She has worked with federal, state, and local agencies, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs), and utility companies during disasters in debris management, wildfires, and site cleanups.
Keith Huggins
Director of Oklahoma Weatherization Training Center at Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies
Keith provides leadership and training in weatherization and building science principles for the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Stephanie Green
Senior Manager, Workforce and Business Resources at Philadelphia Energy Authority
Stephanie provides leadership and supervision to industry sector partnerships to develop necessary and responsive workforce solutions that provide opportunities for businesses and the industry. She also assists with the development of work-based learning training programs.
Funding Acknowledgements
This project has been funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (FAIN) 84087901 to Inclusive Prosperity Capital, Inc. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the Environmental Protection Agency endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document, as well as any images, video, text, or other content created by generative artificial intelligence tools, nor does any such content necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency.
This material is based in part upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Solar Energy Technology Office and Workforce and Equitable Access Program Award Number DE-0010833. The view expressed herein do not necessarily represent the view of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.
Get In Touch
We’d love to hear from you. Green Workforce Connect is a platform for career growth and workforce development in the clean energy and energy efficiency industries. We welcome questions and feedback from students, job seekers, current workers, employers, community-based organizations, and others.
