Green technology isn’t just helping the environment. It’s also boosting the economy.

In February 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new funding award to support workforce training programs targeting jobs in the clean energy sector. The awards will be managed by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, with a contribution from the Office of Energy Justice and Equity.

Funding for the program comes from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will expand the existing Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) network, which aims to advance the workforce in the clean energy and manufacturing sectors through assessments, efficiency improvements and workforce development.

The funding opportunity will provide $24 million for these programs. Grant awards will help expand the IAC network to include more union training programs, community colleges, trade schools, industrial apprenticeships and internships. Expansion of the network will be achieved by training students and workers for careers in clean energy, energy efficiency and advanced manufacturing.

The current award will build on the momentum of a previous round of funding announced last November that supported the expansion of the IAC program to include 17 new centers. Those centers are creating mentorship networks, scholarships, job placement assistance and other supports to help place trainees into high-quality, good-paying green jobs. The goal of that expansion is to train more than 3,000 students and workers for quality careers that do not necessarily require a four-year college degree.

The current round of funding will also help underserved and disadvantaged communities. It is aligned with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

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