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Welcome to this month’s edition of our newsletter! Here, we’ll share what we’re reading, thinking, and doing—and help you stay informed about what other movers and shakers are doing in the green workforce development space. This newsletter is designed as a resource for you, so let us know which topics you’d like to see more of and what resources would be the most helpful!
Inside This Month’s Edition
🚀 Launchpad Updates
Accelerator for Green Workforce Developers Info Session: Cohort 6 is coming this fall! Join us for a live info session on September 17 from 12:00–1:00 PM ET to learn how the Accelerator equips workforce professionals with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to help jobseekers navigate clean energy careers.
TGL End of Summer ‘26 Happy Hour & Social: Join us for a TGL Accelerator Alumni Happy Hour! This is a chance to reconnect with fellow clean energy workforce stakeholders, swap updates on where the green workforce journey has taken you, and enjoy an evening with the people who got you here.
Whether you're catching up with your cohort, meeting alumni from other cohorts, or just want good conversation and good drinks, we'd love to see you there.
Rockefeller Foundation Big Bets Fellowship: Angela wrapped up her 2026 fellowship with a final convening in Bellagio, Italy. As one of 10 bold innovators selected for the second class of U.S. Big Bets Fellows, Angela spent the fellowship advancing her work to help New York jobseekers more easily navigate clean energy training programs, certifications, and career pathways.
NYSERDA Clean Energy Hub Panel: Angela joined Arielle Kandel and Antuan Cannon to share lessons from Clean Energy Career Connect (CECC) at the annual NYSERDA Clean Energy Hub meeting. The conversation centered on a core insight from our work: people don't always need to start over to enter clean energy — sometimes they just need the context and tools to recognize what they already bring.
Coming Soon — Building the Bridge: Keep an eye out for the second article in our Building the Bridge: Lessons from the Frontlines series, exploring what it takes to move beyond career maps toward career navigation that is truly actionable. We’ll look at how skills assessments, training resources, technology, and personalized guidance can work together to help jobseekers understand where they fit, where they can go, and what to do next.
In the meantime, check out our first article, Stop Chasing “Yes”: What Real Employer Engagement Looks Like.
🔍 Career Highlight
Are you looking to better understand the connection between clean energy and workforce development? We’ve got you covered! Watch this short video for a breakdown of The Green Launchpad’s Clean Energy Framework.
Clean energy careers span across multiple sectors, segments, and systems — each playing a vital role in the green workforce. Each month, we’ll spotlight one key sector, segment, or system driving the clean energy transition and highlight the careers and skills shaping the future.
This Month…
We’re continuing series exploring Policy & Nonprofit Careers in Clean Energy— a diverse set of roles that help shape, advance, and implement the policies, programs, and partnerships driving the clean energy transition. From advocacy and public policy to community engagement, research, and program implementation, these careers are essential to accelerating equitable clean energy adoption across sectors. These roles are cross-cutting, supporting progress across all four sectors of The Green Launchpad's Clean Energy Framework.
Our second focus area, Workforce and Education, highlights professionals who build career pathways, deliver training, and connect people to the skills and opportunities needed to enter and advance in the clean energy sector.
2 Sample Career Pathways in Advocacy and Policy
Career Coach
Career Coaches are the guides helping people turn potential into purpose — working one-on-one with clients to clarify goals, sharpen skills, and navigate everything from job searches to salary negotiations. It's a deeply people-centered role for those who love seeing others thrive.
Workforce Development Specialist
This versatile role sits at the intersection of people, policy, and community impact — designing training programs, coaching job seekers, and helping organizations tackle real workforce challenges like skill gaps and high turnover. If you're passionate about building stronger, more equitable workforces, this one's for you.
🙌 Launchpad Community Updates
Pathways to Power — Building Sustainable Careers: NY Climate Week is approaching, and we're bringing the clean energy workforce conversation to the Lower East Side! Join us on September 22 at Abrons Arts Center for our second annual afternoon of keynotes, conversations, and connection — featuring leaders from NYCETC, JobsFirst NYC, Willdan, and across New York's workforce and clean energy ecosystem. Whether you train talent, hire it, or are exploring your own path into the industry, we’d love to see you there!
📅 Tuesday, September 22, 2026
🕛 12:00–4:00 PM
📍 Abrons Arts Center | 466 Grand Street, NYC
Register here.
Clean Energy Career Connect Enrolling Cohort 2: New Women New Yorkers is recruiting immigrant women interested in launching careers in clean energy. Participants will receive industry and career-pathway guidance, GPRO certification, hands-on capstone experience, referrals to advanced training, individualized career planning, and job-placement support.
NYPA Seeks Clean Energy Training Providers: The New York Power Authority has issued a RFP seeking qualified New York State–based organizations to develop and deliver clean energy workforce training. Eligible providers can propose programs that combine technical instruction, hands-on experience, and job-placement support. The initiative aims to equip both new and existing workers with the skills and qualifications needed to meet growing clean energy industry demand.
🏛️ Policy Brief
New York Finalizes Updated RGGI Regulations: DEC and NYSERDA have adopted updates tightening the state’s power-sector pollution cap while protecting energy affordability. The strengthened regulations will sustain investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and cleaner transportation—supporting continued demand for the workers who make these programs possible.
$35 Million Available for Public EV Charging Projects: NYSERDA’s new Charge Ready NY — Large Public Sector Project program will help state agencies, local governments, public authorities, and state or city university systems install publicly accessible Level 2 EV chargers.
Clean Energy Manufacturing Grows Amid Policy Headwinds: A new report from Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy finds that companies announced $7.9 billion in U.S. clean energy manufacturing investments and 5,900 new jobs in the second quarter of 2026. However, federal policy changes have contributed to $39.6 billion in canceled investments and the loss of 53,400 previously announced jobs since early 2025.
Audrey Zibelman Appointed Chair of NYSERDA Board: Governor Hochul has appointed internationally recognized energy leader Audrey Zibelman to chair NYSERDA’s Board of Directors. Zibelman brings more than 35 years of experience spanning energy regulation, operations, government, and governance in the United States and abroad.
