Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Swears in Members of Fossil Fuel Workforce Commission

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today swore in members of a special commission to study the impacts on the fossil fuel workforce, which was established by the 2024 Climate Law. The Commission on Fossil Fuel Workforce will measure and monitor the impacts on fossil fuel workers and industries and examine the ways to increase access to employment, training, and workforce opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields, and submit a report to the Legislature at the end of the year. 

“People work hard every day to ensure we have a safe and reliable source of energy to heat and power our homes and businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We already have underway efforts to ensure the necessary skills training and job opportunities are available to workers, such as in geothermal energy. This Commission will help us develop a coordinated roadmap for this work with everyone impacted shaping the recommendations.”  

“As we work towards our climate goals, we also need to make sure that both current and future workers have access to the skill development and job training they need to fully participate in our clean energy workforce,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “This Commission will allow our Administration to work collaboratively with labor, employers, training partners, and all stakeholders to ensure workers have the support they need to successfully transition to this growing industry.”   

The Fossil Fuel Worker Transition Commission will be coordinated jointly by the Office of Energy Transformation (OET) and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. OET was established in 2024 to address the gas-to-electric infrastructure transition and ensure a just transition for workers and businesses. 

Appointees: 

Melissa Lavinson, co-chair

Executive Director, Office of Energy Transformation 

Josh Cutler, co-chair

Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development

Sarah Wilkinson

Commissioner of Division of Occupational Licensure and Office of Public Safety, Executive Office of Economic Development 

María Belén Power

Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity 

Jennifer Applebaum

Managing Director of Workforce Development at MassCEC 

Nikki Bruno

Vice President, Clean Technologies at Eversource Energy 

Meghan Leahy

Regional Vice President at Cogentrix Energy, LLC 

Kristen Gowin

Executive Manager at National Electrical Contractors Assocation of Greater Boston 

Abel Vargas

President at Valley Home Insulation 

Amy McGuire

Senior Director, Market Development at Highland Electric Fleets 

Lawrence Lessard

Director at Achieve Renewable Energy, LLC 

Mark Melnik

Director, Economic & Public Policy Research at UMass Donahue Institute 

John Cook

President at Springfield Technical Community College 

Steve Finnigan

Sub District Director at United Steelworkers (USW) 

Daniel Leary

President of Local 369 at Utility Workers Union-America (UWUA) 

David Keating

International Representative at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 

Harry Brett

International Representative at United Association 

Michael Vartabedian

Assistant Directing Business Representative at International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers 

Frank Callahan

President, Massachusetts Building Trades Unit (MBTU) 

Greandoll Oliva

Youth Leader in Chelsea and Community Organizer with GreenRoots 

Ana Sofia

Senior Program Director at La Colaborativa 

Statements of Support:  

Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO: 

“Thousands of highly-skilled fossil fuel workers in Massachusetts work day in and day out to heat and power our homes, offices, schools, and hospitals. They deserve a thoughtful and collaborative approach to the issues around the energy transition. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is committed to finding the right solutions in our shared environment, and we look forward to this Commission’s focus on our critical fossil fuel workers.” 

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