The Clean Energy Academy Will Prepare Residents for Green Careers

The Fund for Public Housing (the Fund) and NYCHA, in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), National Grid, New York Power Authority (NYPA), Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, NorthLight Foundation, and Rise Light & Power, recently announced the launch of the Clean Energy Academy.

Over two years, the $2 million program will prepare 100 public housing residents for clean energy careers and jobs at NYCHA developments, helping the Authority achieve its decarbonization goals.

The Clean Energy Academy will complement the Clean Heat for All Challenge, an initiative spearheaded by NYCHA, NYPA, and NYSERDA to develop a new, easily installed, energy-efficient heating and cooling electrification product and hasten the transition away from fossil fuels. The Fund, NYCHA, and partners view the Academy as a model for public housing authorities nationwide and intend for the program to be scalable over time.

“It is critical that we not only find new and innovative ways to develop clean energy as we work to decarbonize our buildings but that we have a well-trained workforce to install and operate this technology,” said NYCHA Chair & CEO Greg Russ. “The Clean Energy Academy will position NYCHA residents to work in building electrification and clean energy careers while moving public housing authorities into a cleaner future.”

The Clean Energy Academy seeks to meet the hiring needs of NYCHA’s energy-efficiency and renewable energy contractors by connecting resident trainees to NYCHA contractors who will be performing nearly $500 million in retrofit and renewable energy projects at NYCHA developments through 2026. LaGuardia Community College/CUNY will oversee a training site for the program. Working directly with potential employers, the Academy will maximize NYCHA resident hires by customizing the training curriculum around contractor needs and providing trainees.

The Fund’s Executive Director Alex Zablocki said the Fund is proud to support this innovative public-private partnership: “With our partners at NYCHA, and support from governmental agencies and the private sector, the Clean Energy Academy will train 100 NYCHA residents within two years, readying them for careers in building electrification and clean energy and providing the opportunity to learn new skills and advance a career in this growing sector.”

“Workforce development and training is a critical part of New York State’s transition to a clean energy economy,” said NYSERDA Workforce Development and Training Director Adele Ferranti. “NYSERDA is thrilled to help fund the Clean Energy Academy – which will not only train NYCHA residents with the skills needed to pursue clean energy jobs with contractors working on NYCHA properties but will help support NYCHA’s broader effort to reduce building emissions and establish healthy and comfortable living spaces for more New Yorkers.”

“Through the leadership of the Fund for Public Housing, the creation of the Clean Energy Academy will bring NYCHA residents directly into the Clean Energy Transition, allowing them to benefit not only from cleaner and healthier buildings but also integrate NYCHA residents into a much-needed, transforming workforce,” noted Vlada Kenniff, NYCHA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability. “As we green our buildings, we want to make sure we leverage these opportunities for green jobs training and placement for our residents.”

Ukah Busgith, NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Community Engagement & Partnerships, added: “We eagerly look forward to working with [all our] partners. The brilliance of this collaboration is that it affords NYCHA the ability to connect residents to an emerging sector in the construction industry, with NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability leading recruitment planning and resident outreach. We are confident that our collective efforts will enhance the quality of life for the residents of NYCHA by connecting them to new energy-efficiency and solar installation trainings, while also providing adult education instruction and employment resources.” 

Resident recruitment and training for the Clean Energy Academy is expected to start in early 2023.