NEW YORK, NY – August 14, 2025 – The New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) and The Green Launchpad today announced the formal launch of the NYC Energy Efficiency Workforce Coalition, an ambitious, employer-led initiative aimed at accelerating workforce development and market transformation in New York City’s energy efficiency sector.
Bringing together contractors, program implementers, and subject-matter experts across the energy efficiency ecosystem, the Coalition is committed to addressing urgent talent gaps while creating long-term career pathways in clean energy. This effort is made possible through a partnership with Con Edison and builds upon insights from industry professionals who have come together to define the skills, roles, and growth trajectories critical to the sector’s future. The coalition will share insights and guidance with workforce development providers to ensure that training is aligned with job opportunities.
“This Coalition is about creating the connective tissue between New York City’s clean energy goals and the people who will power them,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition. “By aligning contractors, workforce providers, and training institutions around a common vision, we’re building a durable ecosystem that equips New Yorkers, especially those from historically excluded communities, with the skills and support to access meaningful, long-term careers. It’s a strategy for inclusive economic development, one that drives decarbonization, strengthens local businesses, and builds wealth in the communities most impacted by climate and economic inequity.”
The Coalition will initially focus on three high-impact occupational tracks: energy auditing and analysis, project management, and technician roles, such as HVAC and installation technicians. These tracks were selected based on direct input from employers who identified them as both high-demand and foundational to decarbonization efforts.
Recognizing that job titles and responsibilities can vary dramatically between large implementation firms and smaller contractors, the Coalition’s working groups will develop customized guides that reflect the nuances of the NYC energy efficiency ecosystem. This includes mapping samples of non-linear career progression, such as technicians moving into program management, and clarifying transferable skills between roles.
“We are incredibly energized by the enthusiastic participation and shared vision demonstrated at our inaugural meeting,” added Angela N. Son, CEO of The Green Launchpad. “This initiative is about more than articulating industry needs; it’s about pioneering a systemic transformation that will scale energy efficiency across our city. The collective commitment from our partners will be instrumental in making New York a leader in green workforce innovation.”
The Coalition is also collaborating with Con Edison to elevate the voices of smaller, underrepresented contractors, often overlooked in workforce planning. By coordinating feedback sessions and focus groups, the Coalition aims to ensure that its deliverables, such as job track blueprints and competency frameworks, are inclusive of both large-scale implementers and “one-truck-Chuck” contractors working at the neighborhood level.
“The Con Edison Foundation shares and supports the Coalition’s mission to prepare the next generation of New Yorkers with the skills they need to power this great city,” said Hilary Ayala, Executive Director of the Con Edison Foundation and the Director of Strategic Partnerships Programs at Con Edison. “We are pleased to be a resource for the Coalition and those seeking the training, education, and skills necessary to build our clean energy future.”
Over the coming year, the Coalition will publish a series of frameworks and tools to guide training providers, community-based organizations, and employers in building and supporting energy efficiency talent. These tools will be grounded in nationally recognized labor data (such as ONET) but refined with local expertise to ensure they reflect real-world job titles, advancement opportunities, and compensation realities.
The NYC Energy Efficiency Workforce Coalition invites all interested organizations and individuals to engage with its mission as it moves forward. The collaborative’s work is anticipated to set a new approach to public-private partnerships in advancing green infrastructure and workforce development.
“This Coalition puts employers at the center of building New York City’s clean energy future,” said Jennifer Tausig, Economic and Workforce Development Consultant and Coordinator of the NYC Energy Efficiency Workforce Coalition. “By grounding our work in the real needs and insights of both large firms and small contractors, we’re creating a practical, scalable roadmap for talent development. These employers are the architects of a new model that links workforce equity with climate innovation. At a moment when the federal budget signals disinvestment in critical housing and infrastructure, local leadership is essential to charting a course that supports market transformation and inclusive economic growth.”
“Willdan is delighted to be a founding member of this innovative Coalition. We appreciate how important creating meaningful career pathways for diverse and deserving individuals and communities is for our city and our industry, and this Coalition is a big step towards creating necessary bridges,” said Antuan Cannon, Vice President of Talent Development and Innovation at Willdan. “We’re humbled that so many of our colleagues and peers share our conviction in this effort’s urgency, affirming that it is bigger than any one of our individual companies.”
“The transition to a clean energy economy requires a deliberate approach to workforce development, one rooted in collaboration, clarity, and long-term investment,” said Brian Johnston, Director at TRC Companies. “As a founding member of the Coalition, TRC Companies is committed to aligning talent development with the demands of energy efficiency implementation. This work strengthens the entire ecosystem, giving contractors access to qualified candidates, giving workers visibility into viable career paths, and giving the city a model for inclusive and scalable market transformation.”
“We’re excited to join a coalition that recognizes the critical role of technical knowledge and workforce clarity in decarbonizing New York City’s buildings,” said LeAnne Harvey, a Senior Building Systems Consultant at Steven Winter Associates. “With evolving building codes, advanced performance standards, and rising demand for heat pumps, the need for well-prepared professionals has never been greater. We are proud to help define job roles, competencies, and career ladders that reflect the real-world skills required for success in this industry. This work ensures that workforce development is not just reactive but strategic, inclusive, and built for the future.”
“This Coalition is a game-changer for the energy efficiency sector,” said Jonathan Mandel, Senior Vice President of Operations at DVM Industries. “At DVM Industries, we’ve long believed in the power of workforce development to deliver both business results and community impact. As a turnkey provider of Energy Solutions, including Mechanical, EV charging, Lighting, Solar, and Battery systems, we’re proud to contribute a real-world, solutions-based perspective to this initiative. This collaboration enables us to help shape talent strategies that reflect the evolving demands of the energy and infrastructure sectors. By aligning industry needs with skills training, we’re opening doors for New Yorkers to build meaningful careers and take the lead in the clean energy transition.
About New York City Employment and Training Coalition
The New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) is the largest city-based workforce development association in the country, supporting over 220 member organizations that serve more than 200,000 New Yorkers annually. NYCETC works to ensure every New Yorker—especially individuals historically excluded from economic opportunity—has access to the skills, education, and support needed to thrive in the local economy. Its members primarily serve women, young adults, public housing residents, justice-impacted individuals, immigrants, and New Yorkers of color.
About The Green Launchpad
The Green Launchpad is a social enterprise dedicated to accelerating climate equity by bridging the gap between clean energy employers and the workforce ecosystem. Through strategic partnerships, program design, and employer-driven initiatives, the organization helps scale inclusive workforce solutions that support decarbonization and economic mobility. The Green Launchpad works at the intersection of clean energy and workforce development to build a more just and sustainable future.