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- Launchpad Connect: Low Carbon-Fuels Jobs, Start of Cohort 4 & PR Coverage, and Launching Wraparound Services Resources
Launchpad Connect: Low Carbon-Fuels Jobs, Start of Cohort 4 & PR Coverage, and Launching Wraparound Services Resources
November 2025 Edition
Angela N. Son
November 04, 2025
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!
 |  | This edition of the newsletter is sponsored by Willdan and Building Performance Institute (BPI), our in-kind sponsor. |
Inside This Month’s Edition
The Green Workforce Brief
Clean Energy Policy Under Pressure:
$450M in NY Clean Energy Funding Cut: The U.S. Department of Energy has canceled 25 of 223 federal clean energy grants—representing $450 million for New York—as part of a nationwide $7.6 billion reduction.
Judge Rules NY Violating Climate Law: A state judge determined that New York failed to meet its 2024 deadline to issue regulations under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and ordered the Department of Environmental Conservation to comply by February 6, 2026.
However, NY clean energy initiatives drive progress:
$80M to Expand Zero-Emission Transit: New state funding will support non-MTA transit providers in expanding their fleets of zero-emission vehicles through the Zero-Emission Transit Transition Program (ZETT).
94% of NYC Buildings Begin Local Law 97 Compliance: Nearly all city buildings over 25,000 square feet have filed required documentation or secured extensions to meet 2024 carbon emissions targets under Local Law 97, advancing the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Advocates Push for More EmPower+ Funding: Environmental groups rallied in Albany to call for expanded investment in EmPower+, the program that delivers free energy-efficiency upgrades to income-eligible households.
TGL’s Clean Energy Industry Framework
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. Our framework organizes the landscape into:
4 Key Sectors – Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, and Clean Transportation
2 Major Verticals – Electric Systems and Thermal Systems
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 diving into the Renewable Energy sector, with a focus on Low Carbon Fuels (e.g., Ethanol, Biofuels) system within the Thermal Renewables segment. Ethanol and biofuels—produced from feedstocks like corn, soybeans, wood chips, and switchgrass—offer a practical pathway to decarbonizing New York’s transportation sector. According to NYSERDA projections, advances in biorefinery technology could expand production to meet up to 16% of the state’s fuel demand. While policy discussions continue on the sustainability of different feedstocks, New York is continuing to scale these fuels, and so will the demand for skilled workers—creating new opportunities across the clean energy economy.
2 Sample Career Pathways in the Low Carbon Fuels System
Transportation Worker (Truck driver, Motor Vehicle Operator)
Job Description: Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity of more than 26,000 pounds. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states.
Education, Certifications, and Licenses: High school diploma or equivalent, Commercial Driver’s License Class A (tractor-trailer)
Sample Job Post: CDL A Driver
Job Description: Under general supervision, operates and maintains equipment used in the production of low-carbon fuels such as ethanol or renewable natural gas (RNG). Responsibilities include monitoring process parameters to ensure quality and efficiency, performing routine maintenance and safety checks, maintaining accurate records, and supporting compliance with OSHA and environmental standards. Plant operators play a key role in ensuring reliable, continuous operations in the clean energy sector.
Education, Certifications, and Licenses: High School Diploma, or equivalent; NYS Driver’s License; Understanding of RNG production processes and equipment
Sample Job Posts: Plant Processing Technician, Plant Operator
Note: This video is not specific to clean energy or energy efficiency, but it highlights many of the core responsibilities of plant operators that overlap with the low-carbon fuels system.
Additional Resources:
Basics of Low Carbon Fuels
NYSERDA Focus Area: Advanced Fuels & Thermal Energy Research
Approx. $8M in Funding to Support Innovation in Low Carbon-Fuels in NY
Launchpad’s Lookback
In October, we celebrated E2’s 25 years of impact, convened energy efficiency employers and workforce providers to strengthen clean energy career pathways, and launched Cohort 4 of our Accelerator for Green Workforce Developers. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights!
On October 21, 2025, Economy + Environment (E2) marked 25 years of advancing climate and clean energy policies. TGL’s founder, Angela N. Son—a former E2 1 Hotels Fellow—joined the celebration, honoring E2’s quarter century of impact, innovation, and leadership in the clean energy economy. |  Angela N. Son featured on top left |
On October 14th, energy efficiency (EE) employers and workforce organizations came together for an in-person convening to exchange insights on workforce needs. The session was a vibrant exchange of insights on what employers in the EE space are looking for, which skills are particularly important in today’s context, and surfaced topics that the Coalition will be collaborating on. These conversations are helping to align training programs with industry needs and open clearer pathways into clean energy careers. |   Employer Coalition In-person Convening |
On October 8, we launched Cohort 4 of The Green Launchpad’s Accelerator for Green Workforce Developers, welcoming 18 organizations from across New York. Over the six-week program, participants will collaborate to strengthen clean energy career pathways and engage with speakers from NYCEDC, startups, industry partners, and more. We’re excited to see this group’s ideas and partnerships grow in the weeks ahead. |  TGL’s Cohort 4 |
Launchpad Updates
Introducing the NYC Wraparound Services Database
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the NYC Wraparound Services Database—a first-of-its-kind, citywide tool designed to remove everyday barriers that keep New Yorkers from fully participating in training and career pathways.
Even the best workforce programs can fall short if participants can’t access childcare, housing, transportation, mental health care, or other supports. This new database brings all those critical resources together in one easy-to-navigate platform, giving users the power to quickly find the help they need—when and where they need it most.
Built by The Green Launchpad, in partnership with the Energy Economic Development Corp. (EEDC), the database was created to address a long-standing gap: information about essential support services has always been fragmented, outdated, or hard to find. Now, workforce providers, community-based organizations, employers, and job seekers have a trusted, centralized resource to guide referrals, strengthen collaboration, and improve program completion rates across the city.
This tool is more than a database—it’s an equity engine. By making wraparound supports visible and accessible, it helps ensure that New York City’s workforce development ecosystem truly includes everyone.
💡See a service/program that’s not listed?
We’re continually expanding this resource and invite organizations across the city to get involved. If your organization provides any wraparound support services, please share your information with us so we can include it in future updates.
👉️Submit your program here
Launchpad Community Updates & Resources
Building Performance Institute (BPI) is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump (ccASHP) Assessor Certificate of Knowledge —a new micro-credential for professionals looking to deepen their expertise in heat pump technology, performance, and best practices for cold climate applications. This online, knowledge-based credential supports a skilled, future-ready workforce as heat pumps reshape the home performance industry. |   |
Our partners at the Staten Island Industrial Alliance are offering a free, two-day GPRO certification course tailored for building professionals who want to sharpen their expertise in sustainable operations. This training provides practical strategies to boost energy efficiency, cut operating costs, and improve overall building performance. With just fifteen seats open, we encourage you to spread the word and help connect interested participants to this valuable opportunity. |  |
Our partner organization, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) is hiring an Assistant Director, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Construction Programs —overseeing training, partnerships, and career pathway initiatives in the green sector. |  |
Earth Forward Group just launched a new video series, Green Jobs, Good Jobs, highlighting the innovations, people, and practices shaping the clean energy workforce of tomorrow. The first episode, Embracing the Next Generation of Weatherization, explores how cutting-edge approaches are helping communities reduce energy costs, improve building performance, and create pathways into sustainable careers. | 🎥 Watch Episode 1 “Embracing the Next Generation of Weatherization” |
Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute is offering grant-funded free tuition for 250 New York State residents to complete the online eCornell certificate Climate Jobs: Building an Equitable, Resilient Clean Energy Economy. Start Dates: Jan. 7, 2025; March 4, 2026, and June 3, 2026 Registration is open for all dates |
The Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI) is conducting a short survey to better understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities across New York’s workforce development ecosystem. Your feedback will help shape future resources, collaborations, and supports for workforce organizations citywide. |  |
