- Launchpad Connect
- Posts
- Launchpad Connect: NY's Clean Energy Push Amid Federal Tensions, Energy Efficiency Jobs, EE Coalition Launch, TGL'S Birthday
Launchpad Connect: NY's Clean Energy Push Amid Federal Tensions, Energy Efficiency Jobs, EE Coalition Launch, TGL'S Birthday
August 2025 Edition
Angela N. Son
August 06, 2025
Welcome to this month’s edition of our newsletter! We’ll use this space to share what we’re reading, thinking, and doing and to help you stay informed about what other movers and shakers are doing in the green workforce development space. This newsletter is a resource built for you, so let us know what topics you’d like to see more of and what resources would be the most helpful!
Inside This Month’s Edition
The Green Workforce Brief
Federal Energy Shakeups: What’s Happening with the Big Beautiful Bill?
What’s Happening? The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has officially passed, reshaping the national clean energy landscape by slashing subsidies, repealing key tax credits such as the (1) Clean Electricity Investment Credit (§45Y), (2) Clean Electricity Production Credit (§45U), (3) Clean Fuel Production Credit (§45Z), and the (4) Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (§25C), and shifting the balance of power to states.
👉️ Read the full analysis
Why It Matters? For New York, the stakes are high. The rollback in federal support could stall momentum unless the state steps up with targeted workforce investments and streamlined deployment. Analysts conclude that jobs in solar, wind, and building electrification are at risk without rapid state actionespecially in low-income and climate-vulnerable communities.
Takeaway: Federal retreat means it’s New York’s time to lead—or lose ground.
Want to go deeper?
Reuters: Clean Energy Boom Fades
Rhodium Group: Impact Assessment
Columbia SIPA: Energy Impact Analysis
On the Upside, New York Boosts Clean Energy and Workforce Investments
🔗 NYPA Awards to Spur $395M in Clean Energy Investment: The New York Power Authority, in partnership with Governor Hochul, has announced a new round of economic development awards expected to drive nearly $395 million in capital investment across the state, supporting facility expansions, job creation, and supply chain growth through low-cost hydropower and clean energy incentives.
🔗 New York Approves First New Nuclear Plant to Boost Clean Grid: New York has green-lit construction of its first new nuclear facility in decades to help meet the state’s climate targets. The plant is expected to provide steady zero-emissions power and complement intermittent renewables like wind and solar — supporting grid reliability and long-term clean energy jobs, especially in advanced manufacturing and plant operations.
🔗 NYSERDA Awards $7M for High-Performance Multifamily Housing: Nearly $7 million in state funding has been awarded to support 13 multifamily housing projects focused on energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and electrification. The initiative will create skilled jobs in retrofitting and green construction while advancing New York’s clean energy goals in low- and moderate-income communities.
🔗 $3.7M in NYSERDA Funding to Advance Clean Hydrogen Tech: NYSERDA has announced $3.7 million in funding to accelerate clean hydrogen innovation in New York. The initiative supports feasibility studies and demonstration projects, aiming to grow the state’s hydrogen economy, reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sectors, and create high-tech clean energy jobs across engineering, manufacturing, and system design.
TGL’S Clean Energy Industry Framework
Are you looking to understand how clean energy and workforce development connect? We’ve got you covered! Watch this short video, in which we break down The Green Launchpad’s Clean Energy Framework.
Clean energy careers span multiple sectors, segments, and systems, each playing a vital role in the green workforce. Our framework breaks it down into:
4 Key Sectors – Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Renewable Energy,
Clean Transportation2 Major Verticals – Electric Systems & Thermal Systems
Every month, we’ll explore one key sector, segment, or system driving the clean energy transition and highlight the careers and skills shaping the future.
This Month…
We’re expanding our focus — from spotlighting individual systems like Heating Systems to examining the Energy Efficiency sector as a whole. By shifting from the system level to the sector level, we aim to capture the full breadth of technologies and workforce opportunities driving building decarbonization across New York.
The Energy Efficiency sector spans both electric and thermal systems, encompassing HVAC and refrigeration, lighting, appliances, building envelope, and more. Workers in this sector are helping to decarbonize residential, commercial, and industrial buildings through strategies like high-efficiency equipment upgrades, low-carbon materials, insulation improvements, and smart building controls. Local initiatives — like NYCEDC’s Circular Construction Guidelines, the Clean Heat for All Challenge, and green building apprenticeship programs — highlight the sector’s potential to reduce emissions, cut energy bills, and create quality green jobs across design, installation, manufacturing, retrofitting, and sales and outreach.
2 Sample Career Pathways in the Energy Efficiency Sector
Sales and outreach roles in the energy efficiency sector focus on promoting upgrades like lighting, HVAC, and insulation — often at the contractor or implementation level. These jobs may combine community engagement, door-to-door (D2D) sales, and relationship building to help homes and businesses adopt cost-saving, energy-reducing technologies.
While the core goal is to sell energy efficiency measures, responsibilities vary by company and product type. To show this range of jobs available, we’ll highlight two sample roles, but note that sales opportunities in this field span beyond these examples. We also recommend jobseekers to carefully analyze the job description to understand the specific job requirements.
Energy Efficiency Specialist (Outreach Coordinator)
Job Description: Engage and support contractors, distributors, and/or customers to promote energy efficiency programs through outreach, education, and project development. Manage client relationships, identify savings opportunities, and coordinate project documentation to meet program goals.
Education, Certifications, and Licenses: Bachelor’s degree; A Certified Energy Auditor (commercial) certification may be preferred for certain job roles.
Career Pathway: Account manager, Program manager, Business Development Manager
Sample Job Posts: Energy Efficiency Specialist, Multifamily Outreach Coordinator
🔗 Energy Efficiency Sales Representative (Energy Service Representative)
Job Description: Energy Efficiency Sales Representatives generate leads, assess energy use, and recommend upgrades to improve residential or small business energy performance. They educate customers, build relationships, and drive sales by offering tailored efficiency solutions that enhance comfort and cost savings.
Education, Certifications, and Licenses: High School Diploma or equivalent; Experience with Salesforce or CRM software; Recognized Certification: RESNET, BPI-Building Science Principles (BSP) Certificate of knowledge
Career Pathway: Building Automation Systems Trainee, Energy Efficiency Technician (Commercial)
Additional Links:
NYSERDA Sales Representative in HVAC / R Job description
Green Building Career Map - explore career pathways
Launchpad’s One Year Lookback
🎉 The Green Launchpad is ONE 🎉
We couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of our team, partners, participants, and wider community. Thank you for believing in our mission, showing up, and helping us grow. |  Cohort 1 Participants  Cohort 2 Participants  Cohort 3 Participants  Energy Efficiency Employer-led Workforce Coalition Kick Off event at Con Edison |
Launchpad Community Updates & Resources
During this summer, we’re continuing to focus on what matters most: building strong connections. Find below exciting updates from us and our community — from the waitlist for Cohort 4 (new cohort starting in October), a Clean Energy Career Launcher series designed for immigrant women, new workforce funding RFA from NYPA, and other clean energy & sustainability workforce events and resources.
The Clean Energy Growth Playbook Series — a free, four-part webinar developed by TGL in partnership with Energy EDC and Willdan Clean Energy Academy just completed in August. The sessions highlight key (1) wage subsidies and incentives, (2) clean energy financing solutions, (3) hiring tax credits, (4) programs and policy drivers. Stay tuned for the recordings and slides! |  |
Our partners New Women New Yorkers and Soulful Synergy are teaming up to launch a free three-part Electric Vehicle Training in Spanish — designed specifically for immigrant women exploring careers in clean transportation. The series covers EV fundamentals, site evaluation, and managed charging, with sessions running in Early August. |  |
In August, New York Power Authority (NYPA) is releasing an RFA seeking applications from NYS based training providers (such as technical high schools, community colleges, universities, trade associations, manufacturers, and others) who can collaborate to develop technical training opportunities, hands-on experience, paid internships and full-time jobs for people entering the clean energy workforce and advance training opportunities for traditional utility workers. Additional inquiries can be directed to [email protected]. |  Details for NYPA Request for Application |
Part 1 and 2 of The 2025 Sustainability Practitioners Handbook offer clear, actionable guidance built from the OPF team’s work across 100+ net-zero projects. From navigating climate disclosures to aligning with IFRS standards and setting ambitious targets, this resource cuts through the noise to help practitioners stay ahead. Huge kudos to the OnePointFive team (opf.degree) for making this available to the field!
