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Growing the Economy Of the Future: Job Training For the Clean Energy Transition

Room 216 Hart Senate Office Building

In the last two years, the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress have taken significant action to address the climate crisis by increasing investments in the clean energy industry. Investments in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have increased the demand for workers who can fill roles in a range of clean energy occupations, from manufacturing workers building wind turbines or solar panels to HVAC installers putting in heat pumps. This need creates an opportunity for millions of Americans to start stable careers that pay a living wage without having to earn a four-year college degree. In addition, new investments in clean energy infrastructure will be spread out across the country and present an opportunity to more intentionally employ women and people of color in the energy sector and the skilled building trades where they have been historically underrepresented.

To explore clean energy workforce development, the Joint Economic Committee will hold a hearing titled “Growing the Economy Of the Future: Job Training For the Clean Energy Transition” on Wednesday September 20, 2023 at 2:15 PM EST. The hearing will be held in the Hart Senate Office Building, Room 216.

Chairman Martin Heinrich will preside.

Read Chairman Heinrich's opening statement

Witnesses:

Courtenay Eichhorst 

Business Manager, U.A. Local Union No. 412 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

 

Tracy Hartzler 

President, Central New Mexico Community College 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

 

Dr. William Beach

Senior Fellow, Economic Policy Innovation Center 

Former Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Washington, DC 

Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin 

President, American Action Forum 

Former Director, Congressional Budget Office 

Washington, DC