BlueGreen Alliance’s Post

Before Marcus started as a carpentry fellow with Habitat for Humanity, he didn’t know what he was going to do with his life. “I was a troubled youth,” he says. But now, “I’m building a career … with a bright future ahead of me in years to come.” He can thank Philadelphia’s #EnergyCoordinatingAgency (ECA) — and the #InflationReductionAct (IRA) — for many of his opportunities. The ECA hosts a workforce development program, training 250 workers each year in the #cleanenergy economy who weatherise and upgrade homes so Philly residents can conserve energy, lower bills, stay warm in winter, and prevent utility terminations. But it’s not just the weatherization recipients who benefit from the ECA. The Knight Green Careers Training Center focuses on training 18–25-year-olds “critically at risk from incarceration and gun violence” to give them meaningful careers and financial stability. With students taking part in free, grant-funded programs and receiving industry credentials that can land them career-pathway jobs, the power of this program is evident. According to Jackie Robinson, lead instructor at ECA, “We try to create jobs here that make a great living. You get a good skillset that can change your life and give you … generational wealth.” The IRA jobs boom While the ECA has existed long before the IRA — the largest investment in clean energy in #UShistory — was passed in August 2022, the IRA has been a boon to the ECA with additional funding to train more workers and keep the programs free. “[The IRA sent] some money down that we could use to train more students. That’s the end result … And the money’s being well used. We’re training people for the jobs of the future,” says Robinson. And with over 330,000 jobs — and counting — created nationally from the IRA, the jobs of the future are here. Clean energy jobs can result in an 8–19 percent income increase, and three quarters of IRA-created jobs won’t require a four-year degree. According to a US Department of Energy jobs report, clean energy jobs grew at twice the rate of overall US employment and accounted for more than half of all new energy jobs in 2023. In addition, unionisation rates for clean energy are at 12.4 percent, slightly higher than the energy sector’s 11 percent average.

DOE allocates $24M to expand clean energy jobs and training 👏 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $24M for clean energy job training programs under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The initiative expands the Industrial Assessment Centers network, focusing on non-degree clean energy jobs. It aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's clean energy goals, benefiting small manufacturers and disadvantaged communities through the Justice40 Initiative. Learn more about the announcement 👇 https://brnw.ch/21wHkJ5

Inflation Reduction Act helps states create more clean energy jobs. Since the Inflation Reduction Act became law, private companies have announced over $128 billion in clean energy projects. This has led to the creation of more than 100,000 new jobs. The South has been particularly successful in attracting these projects, with Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee seeing significant commitments. The clean energy sector is driving economic development and job growth, with the South adding jobs fastest. The impact of the IRA on the economy is significant, and clean energy economies are taking root in new regions of the country. #greenjobs #worksforce #ira #usa #cleanenergy Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJztAKET

The Inflation Reduction Act has expanded clean energy credits and implemented the elective pay option for tax-exempt organizations, making it an important opportunity for many institutions. As seen in the Treasury's report linked below, colleges and universities are already utilizing this legislation to undertake clean energy projects. These projects not only promote clean energy adoption, but also allow institutions to take advantage of the favorable provisions. If your organization is actively involved in clean energy construction projects or planning to undertake such projects soon, reach out to Crowe to see how your organization can benefit from this legislation as well. #inflationreductionact #taxexempt #highereducation

If your organization is investing in clean energy, there may be an opportunity to take a "direct pay" credit - claiming cash directly from the IRS! The Inflation Reduction Act has created new opportunities for exempt organizations to monetize these investments through new credits and incentives. This is an interesting article about higher education institutions leading the way on clean energy. https://lnkd.in/eRuF4B4Q

In support of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a new $24 million funding opportunity for workforce training programs with a focus on training in clean energy jobs that do not require a four-year degree. This funding, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will further expand the existing Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) network to include more union training programs, community colleges, and trade schools. These IACs support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of growing our clean energy workforce and boosting the economy by helping small and midsized manufacturers (SMMs) identify opportunities to save costs and increase productivity. Learn more here:

It doesn't matter how big or small your school is, energy costs are now one of the top 3 expenditure items after salaries and borrowing costs. School operating costs are blowing up across many expenditure items so school business managers need to save money where they can. Well done to Spinifex Energy for helping Radford College make some significant savings. #energy #electricity #schools #independentschools #schoolbusinessmanagers

Check out my latest Op-Ed about the impact of federal investments in clean energy. The #InflationReductionAct has already spurred investments creating over 210,000 jobs and hundreds of new clean energy projects in the US. Plus, consumers are benefiting from lower energy costs. #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Jobs #Sustainability Clean Energy for America

Next week, the new UK's new party of government comes together in Liverpool. Here are my thoughts for the Fabian Society on how Labour might set a social licence for the scale of planning, new energy infrastructure, and housing that is coming. #justtransition #greeninvestment #greenfinance #planning https://lnkd.in/e2qBBvSU

U.S. DOE Allocates $24 Million To Boost Clean Energy Workforce Training Nationwide In alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of 21 new projects set to receive $24 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This initiative aims to enhance clean energy workforce training programs, focusing on jobs that do not require a four-year degree, within union training programs, community colleges, and trade schools nationwide. Over 40% of this funding will be allocated to union job training. The selected projects will expand DOE’s existing Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) network, which trains energy-efficiency workers to assist small- and […] Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dcQsh54u #solarenergy #alternativeenergy #solarpv #pvsolar #photovoltaic #cleanenergy #cleantech #climatechange #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #solarenergy #u.s.departmentofenergy #usa