NYCHA Clean Energy Academy Graduates Second Cohort 

On December 19, NYCHA’s Clean Energy Academy celebrated its second class of 15 graduates, moving closer to the goal of training 100 NYCHA residents for green jobs over its first two years.  

The newest cohort of graduates join the 24 residents who were the first to complete the 16-week, 280-hour program this summer. The free academy – which provides participants with construction skills training, hands-on learning, workforce preparation, and specialized knowledge on issues such as building electrification and energy efficiency – aims to place at least 64 trainees into clean energy jobs over two years.  

Graduates receive industry certifications – including 30-hour OSHA safety training, 10-hour Site Safety Training, Flagger and Scaffold Certification, Asbestos and Confined Space Awareness – as well as a $1,500 stipend. After completing the monthslong cohort focused on energy efficiency, the 15 latest graduates were commended for taking the first step toward a career in the rapidly growing clean energy industry.  

“We are here to celebrate you today for your accomplishments, dedication, hard work, and hopefully an incredible future in a green job,” NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt told the graduates. “This academy is a result of yearslong planning that arose from NYCHA’s 2021 Sustainability Agenda, which created a roadmap for building healthier, safer, and more comfortable homes for our residents.” 

Noting that NYCHA has set forth an ambitious goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, Ms. Bova-Hiatt said the Authority and its partners are investing in building electrification and decarbonization efforts, as well as training programs that grow the clean energy workforce in the city.  

“That’s what the Clean Energy Academy does – the innovative program trains NYCHA residents for high-quality, in-demand careers in the clean energy sector while helping NYCHA and New York City meet our sustainability goals,” the CEO said.  

The academy program is a partnership between NYCHA and the Public Housing Community Fund, in collaboration with LaGuardia Community College, which facilitates the workforce training. NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) and the Asset and Capital Management Sustainability team also help oversee the program. The $2 million initiative is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), National Grid, Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, New York Power Authority (NYPA), NorthLight Foundation, and Rise Light and Power.   

“The clean energy future is here and we’re celebrating a collective effort to enhance the future of our community and our environment,” LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Abrams said at the December 19 ceremony. “This pioneering program continues to successfully train NYCHA residents, making a significant step toward clean energy pathways and advancing NYCHA’s own decarbonization goals.” 

Following the training course, the Clean Energy Academy works to connect graduates to NYCHA contractors who will be performing nearly $500 million in retrofit and renewable energy projects at developments across the city through 2026. The academy customizes the curriculum to meet contractor needs and also provides trainees with wrap-around services such as mental health and social service support to help them succeed in future careers.     

“The Public Housing Community Fund is proud to celebrate the achievements of the NYCHA Clean Energy Academy’s second cohort,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Fund. “Our graduates have completed a challenging program, preparing them to play a major role in decarbonizing and greening NYCHA campuses.”   

Two additional academy cohorts are expected to launch in spring 2024, including a program focusing on solar power.  

For more information about the academy, visit www.communityfund.nyc/cea.