WASHINGTON — The White House announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other federal agencies have committed to new agency partnerships to help encourage growth in green jobs. DOE is responsible for distributing much of the clean energy funding included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, so the agency has agreed to notify the Department of Labor as funding commitments are made and jobs are created. The Department of Labor will, in turn, provide that information to local One-Stop Employment Centers, which will connect unemployed workers with jobs, training, and education opportunities, while the Department of Education will help identify the educational resources needed for worker training.

DOE will also work with the departments of Education and Labor to help create career development opportunities in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition, DOE will conduct outreach to employers and industry-related organizations to help the departments of Education and Labor identify standards, assessments, best practices, accreditations, and certifications needed for careers in the energy sector. The three agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize the agreement.

Publication date: 06/22/2009