Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates $2 Million Federal Award for Energy Auditor Training

Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced it was selected to receive $2 million under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Auditor Training (EAT) Grant Program, funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The EAT Program provides grants to enhance or establish commercial and residential energy auditing training and certification programs. Energy auditors conduct energy audits, or surveys, of buildings to evaluate energy use and efficiency. They help homeowners and businesses improve energy efficiency and lower energy consumption and waste, which often leads to savings on energy bills.

Massachusetts applied for a competitive grant for commercial sector energy auditor training and received the maximum award. The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), in partnership with Roxbury Community College (RCC) and Greenfield Community College (GCC), will establish a commercial energy auditor training program, which will build on energy auditor and HVAC training programs currently in development at each college. Greenfield Community College will be a Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) Testing Center, making it one of four centers in the state and the only training center in Western Mass.

“This funding comes at a critical juncture as we grow and expand the diversity of our clean energy workforce by bridging some of the common challenges to career development,” said DOER Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “In transitioning our buildings away from fossil fuels, the demand for jobs in the energy efficiency sector will continue to increase. This training program will provide a valuable career path to good-paying jobs and economic mobility in Massachusetts’ clean energy economy.”

“MassCEC is excited to work with DOER to help Roxbury Community College and Greenfield Community College establish commercial energy auditor training programs for aspiring clean energy workers in Greater Boston and Western Massachusetts,” said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Dr. Emily Reichert. “Energy auditors are already playing a key role enhancing the energy performance of our homes and buildings, and this funding from the Biden-Harris Administration will provide those interested in this climate-critical occupation with the tools they need to succeed.”

Massachusetts’ EAT program will train new and existing workers to provide energy audits to help small businesses make efficiency and electrification improvements. The training programs supported will include curricular resources and work-based learning experiences that align with current and future standards for professional energy auditors. The funding will help create a training program that can be replicated throughout the state.

“An effective clean energy transition must include support for our small businesses,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “This grant will help our Commonwealth establish important partnerships with our local colleges while strengthening our clean energy workforce.”

“Green buildings are an essential part of the clean energy transition, and highly paid, well-trained commercial building energy auditors are a critical piece of that puzzle,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “I’m proud to have voted for the funding the in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for this important program, and applaud the Healey-Driscoll administration for securing $2 million from the Biden-Harris Department of Energy for commercial energy auditor training, in partnership with Greenfield Community College and Roxbury Community College. Good-paying clean energy jobs will shine a bright light into the future.”

“Roxbury Community College is excited to partner with DOER and MassCEC to expand our energy auditor training,” said RCC Dean of Workforce and Business Development Salvador Pina. “This new funding will allow us to expand our program to include energy auditing for commercial buildings. Energy auditors trained by RCC fulfill a critical workforce need by providing homeowners and businesses with the assessments needed to save energy, reduce costs, and decrease the Commonwealth’s carbon footprint.”

The training program will include a series of stackable credentials to prepare trainees for a variety of work in the clean energy industry; an energy auditor training bridge curriculum to help transition residential auditors to work in small/medium commercial buildings; and support services to address common barriers to success, such as transportation, childcare, materials, and testing costs.

“Greenfield Community College is thrilled to partner with DOER and MassCEC to implement this DOE grant. Starting a new energy auditor training program at Greenfield Community College not only equips students with valuable skills for a growing industry but also fosters economic resilience, promotes environmental stewardship, and creates pathways for sustainable careers that benefit our entire community,” said GCC Vice President of Workforce Development Kristin Cole. “This critical funding will support the training and certification of the energy auditors needed to assist building owners throughout Franklin and Hampshire counties to make the energy efficiency and electrification improvements necessary to meet the Commonwealth's decarbonization goals.”

MassCEC will also work to align existing state resources, such as internship programs that can help place new entrants by covering a significant portion of wages through the first 12 weeks of employment.

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