Overview
The Renewable Energy Training Initiative (RETI) program helps ensure that all New Yorkers are included in New York State’s (NYS) clean energy future. Through RETI, New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has issued about $4 million in State funding to interested Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) for:
- The up-skilling or re-skilling of workers transitioning from fossil fuel to clean energy positions;
- The up-skilling or re-skilling of residential workers in weatherization, building performance, and retrofitting, including fees for required industry-recognized credentials; and
- Wraparound services during training, including but not limited to, childcare, transportation, housing, food, mental health services, and substance use treatment or services.
Awardees
Note: * Indicates local areas have successfully spent the first distribution and received additional funds.
| LWDB | Amount | How are they using the Funds |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Rensselaer-Schenectady Counties | $250,000 | Training will primarily be focused on skills needed for the sustainable energy industry (offshore wind in particular). Classroom and hands-on training will be in electrical, welding, and building trades - established programs through Capital Region BOCES with industry-recognized credentials. |
| Broome-Tioga Counties | $248,100 | On-the-job training (OJT), pre-apprenticeship, and/or registered apprenticeship with renewable energy companies such as Foam-it, ANC, etc. Providing a training course through their local BOCES for residential electricity. This course includes a 12-hour module on solar electricity; including an introduction to solar energy, solar PV systems and components, installation, and calculating solar energy. |
| Cayuga-Cortland Counties | $175,000 | OJT and pre-apprenticeship programs will be utilized to help a new battery energy storage business get started in the Cortland County community. Onsite and outside training locations will be used for the following classes/trainings:
|
| Chautauqua County | $175,000 | OJTs, pre-apprenticeships, and registered apprenticeships at all businesses with employment opportunities in clean energy and renewable energy will be a program focus. Providing training courses that contain a clean energy component in construction technology, and an electrical technician master course at Jamestown Community College. |
| Chemung-Schuyler-Steuben Counties | $16,021 | Chemung Schuyler Steuben Workforce New York (CSS WFNY) has training providers in the area who provide renewable energy training. CSS WFNY is electing to utilize these funds for OJT, customized pre-apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship training based on business need. |
| Dutchess County | $325,500* | Providing training in renewable energy construction, including additional training for installation of solar field rack systems and wind turbine construction. |
| Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie Counties | $324,250* | Staff will be working with the Regional Clean Energy HUB, local employers, and training providers to gain a better understanding of the careers available now and in the future. Will continue to strengthen their relationship with local apprenticeship ambassadors and trainers to gain a better understanding of opportunities. |
| Hempstead-City of Long Beach | $129,930 | Providing training in HVAC, electrical and energy systems and pre-weatherization, weatherization, and green building trainings with a focus on work-based experiences, specifically through OJT and internships. |
| Herkimer-Madison-Oneida Counties | $175,000 | Provided training through local BOCES to fund HVAC technician training. Work with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) and the New York State Weatherization Directors Association (NYSWDA) to run a weatherization training boot camp that ran for a week and took place at NYSWDA’s Energy Efficiency Training Center in Syracuse. |
| Monroe County | $100,000 | Customized training for new or incumbent workers will include clean energy certification training. OJT for new hires in clean energy jobs will be covered. Classroom training will include a clean energy manufacturing technician boot camp following a pre-apprenticeship model. |
| New York City | $500,000* | Cohorts will enter either as ADVANCED EV TRAINING for maintenance and vehicle repair, charging, and safety or as INTRODUCTORY EV TRAINING participants. NYC Cool Roofs, a program that provides low-income New Yorkers with paid training and work experience installing energy-saving reflective rooftops. The NYC Workforce Development Board will partner closely with NYC Small Business Services (SBS) to ensure that The HOPE Program recruits and prioritizes residents of disadvantaged communities. This initiative will utilize OJET RETI funding for participant wages and fringe as well as administration for the overall funding for both NYC Cool Roofs and the City of New York Electric Vehicle Training Program. |
| Niagara County | $500,000* | Providing training courses through Erie 1 BOCES in welding, electrical and HVAC classes. Each training course contains a clean energy component, including heat pump training, solar options, and EV installations. |
| Oswego County | $36,575 | Due to local demand, CiTi BOCES is restarting HVAC training as part of their adult education programming. This will allow Oswego County participants to attend training in their own country. Oswego County Workforce New York (OCWNY) is also in contact with local businesses about OJT opportunities for employees needing to learn HVAC skills for residential building and renovations. |
| Rockland County | $174,991 |
|
| St. Lawrence County | $175,00 | OJT, short-term classroom, Clean Energy Readiness Program - components of 120-hour training program:
Students will be eligible to receive industry recognized certifications (micro-credentials) through Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) for electrical systems, programmable controller systems, and pneumatic systems. Credit-Bearing EV Maintenance micro-credential (15 weeks), students will earn three credits and be ready to take their Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification exam.
Additional training programs will be considered as they become available and fit the required parameters of this initiative. |
| Tompkins County | $90,000 | Working with Hammerstone Carpentry for Women to offer carpentry apprenticeship. The apprentice carpenter will learn all aspects of home construction through real jobsite experience with a focus on high performance envelope design and implantation, including air sealing and weatherization. |
| Ulster County | $40,000 | OJT, pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships in fields such as geothermal systems, solar installations, plumbing, and energy auditing, certification options like BPI (Building Performance Institute) certifications and specialized courses in building science facilitated at SUNY Ulster. Equip-building contractors with the knowledge and tools to adopt environmentally conscious practices in construction, including sourcing sustainable materials, reducing environmental impact, and transitioning to clean energy in operations. |
| Westchester-Putnam Counties | $500,000* | NCCER CORE: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills and HVAC Career Track: 7-week program that provides participants with foundational construction skills and HVAC system knowledge, preparing them for advanced roles in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) fields. Home Performance (HP) Career Track Certificate Program: 6-week program that trains participants in home performance diagnostics and techniques for improving energy efficiency in residential buildings. Heat Pump and HVAC Sales Career Track Certificate Program: 8-week program that equips participants with both sales techniques and technical knowledge for selling heat pump and HVAC systems. Home Performance Administration Career Track Certificate Program: 1-week program focused on equipping participants with administrative skills necessary for managing projects and operations in the home performance and energy efficiency industries.
Partnered with Soulful Synergy to prepare participants to enter clean energy construction fields. The program provides foundational construction certifications with specialized green building credentials and real-world, hands-on experience. |