U.S. Department of Energy Announces $3 Million for New Initiative To Support and Expand America’s Industrial Decarbonization Workforce

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), in collaboration with the Office of Technology Transitions, today announced $3 million for a new initiative to help grow the readiness of the workforce needed to decarbonize the U.S. industrial sector. The Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Decarbonization (ISEED) Collaborative will provide assistance to partners across the manufacturing sector to develop and disseminate instructional curricula and training programs focused on industrial sustainability, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. The resources will be available for workers at any level of training and education and designed to empower learners to build the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to sustainable manufacturing that will reduce industrial emissions and move the country towards a net-zero economy by 2050. 

“As the industrial sector moves toward a low-carbon future, we need to make sure the existing manufacturing workforce has the skills and tools they need, and foster the next generation of manufacturing workers,” said Avi Shultz, director of IEDO. “This successful investment in our industrial workforce will only be possible with tailored workforce development programs and resources like ISEED.”

The ISEED Collaborative aims to amplify existing and proven programs, develop new content to support emerging technologies, align training programs to industry needs, and improve the accessibility of training and education for workers in underserved communities. Up to six selected ISEED Collaborative members will receive funding, technical support, and guidance over the course of two years to develop and pilot workforce solutions that can be scaled regionally or nationally. 

To form the ISEED Collaborative membership, IEDO is soliciting proposals from organizations with established experience or networks in the following focus areas:

• Energy efficiency and decarbonization for existing industrial processes, including energy management, use of waste heat, and smart manufacturing strategies.
• Industrial electrification of thermal processes, process heat (heat pumps), or hydrogen production.
• Low-carbon fuels, feedstocks, and energy sources, which will play a critical role in decarbonizing subsectors that rely on fossil fuels and could include renewable energy, clean hydrogen, fuel-flexible processes, and biofuels and bio feedstocks.

Potential members could include but are not limited to: manufacturing education and training organizations (except for high schools, community colleges, trade schools and universities); trade, industry, and labor groups; organizations working to expand job and training access to diverse populations; and professional societies or associations. 

Applications are due on Nov. 1, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET. IEDO will hold an informational webinar/objective strategic session on Oct. 9, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET and informational office hours on Oct. 23, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. Please visit the CONNECTWERX website to register for both events and learn more about how to submit a proposal.  

This program is managed by CONNECTWERX in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through an innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement set up by the DOE's Office of Technology Transitions. This agreement enables CONNECTWERX to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and nontraditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of clean energy solutions.