U.S. DOE Awards $2.1 Million to Advance Clean Energy Careers through Educational Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the selection of seven nonprofit educational organizations to receive up to $300,000 each under the Clean Energy Careers for All (CEC4A) program. The initiative aims to foster interest and awareness in clean energy careers among K–12 students, university alumni and professionals, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals.

The CEC4A program supports initiatives such as internships, career coaching, mentorship, curriculum development, and career exposure opportunities. “Partnering with organizations that are already excelling in attracting diverse talent to STEM-focused careers in energy innovation is one of the best ways DOE can help build the workforce needed to ensure America’s resilient energy future,” said Susan Hamm, director of the Integrated Strategies Office at DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Awarded Organizations and Programs

1. California Green Building Council (Los Angeles, California): Workshops, certificate programs, and internships for high school juniors and seniors in green building careers.
2. EVHybridNoire (Smyrna, Georgia): Expansion of the E-Mobility Fellowship Program to provide Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and clean energy technology training for underrepresented students.
3. RMI (Boulder, Colorado): Development of a certification course offering leadership training and technical project development for professionals in remote and islanded U.S. communities.
4. Association of Geological Hydrogen (Austin, Texas): Creation of a GeoH2 workforce pipeline through partnerships with universities, national labs, and industry, including internships and mentorship programs.
5. Louisiana Green Corps (New Orleans, Louisiana): Workforce training in green construction, stormwater management, and solar energy industries under the Construction and Conservation Corps program.
6. Alaska Resource Education (Anchorage, Alaska): Comprehensive curriculum for high school students highlighting Alaska’s natural resources and clean energy career pathways.
7. New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology (Socorro, New Mexico): Immersive virtual reality training in geothermal energy and decarbonization technologies for workforce development.

Phase 2 Opportunities

The selected organizations will be eligible for a Phase 2 award based on their Phase 1 performance. The top three to five teams will share an additional $750,000 to further scale their initiatives.

Innovative Partnerships

The program is managed by TechWerx in collaboration with DOE through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement established by the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions. This agreement broadens DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and nontraditional partners, accelerating clean energy solutions.

The CEC4A program highlights DOE’s commitment to addressing workforce gaps and supporting the next generation of clean energy leaders.