2024
The purpose of CEE’s workforce development program is to recruit, train and retain Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latin, people of color, and women in the energy efficiency sector. With support from Xcel Energy, CEE launched a career training program in early 2022 specifically for unemployed and underemployed Minnesotans of color and women from Green Zone areas of Minneapolis and areas of concentrated poverty in St. Paul. Not long after their program launch, CEE was awarded funding by CenterPoint Energy to expand its training to areas of concentrated poverty in suburban Hennepin County.
Since the program launch, CEE has trained 90 participants through its holistic, paid 4-week home energy career training. Skilled energy auditors serve as the instructors and 98% of participants have earned the Building Science Principles BPI credential. In partnership with community-based organizations, CEE is able to offer wrap-around support services including transportation support, financial coaching, and employment navigation during and after the paid training and internship. CEE looks forward to expanding its work to HVAC career training in the Twin Cities’ east metro through Ramsey County’s Learn and Earn ARPA funding and to areas of Greater Minnesota later this year (2024).