Six organizations will join the Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Decarbonization (ISEED) Collaborative, helping to develop and expand existing programs that support the American workforce and provide more paths into the industrial sector.
Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office
January 17, 2025
minute read time
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) announced six organizations that will join the Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Decarbonization (ISEED) Collaborative. Through this $3.6 million initiative, selected groups will develop and expand existing programs that support the American workforce, providing more pathways into the industrial sector, expanding energy efficiency practices, and increasing the health and prosperity of Americans.
Currently, the industrial sector enables more than 21 million stable, well-paying jobs—supporting communities across America and contributing $4.8 trillion to the nation's economy. As the industrial sector evolves to keep pace with national and global markets, the demand for skilled workers is rising rapidly.
"Of the 4 million new manufacturing jobs needed by 2030, half risk going unfilled due to the increasing specialization and expertise that these new jobs will require," said Dr. Avi Shultz, director of IEDO. "The ISEED Collaborative strives to bridge this gap by providing workforce training and upskilling activities that prepare existing workers—and attract a diverse mix of new workers—to the industrial jobs of today and the future."
The six organizations selected for negotiation span diverse areas of expertise, and each have key touchpoints for reaching existing and emerging members of the workforce. Over a two-year period, each organization will receive DOE funding, technical support, and guidance to pilot and expand programs that can be scaled regionally or nationally.
The ISEED steering committee will play a critical role in providing technical support and guidance. In coordination with IEDO, members of the steering committee include experts from the National Energy Technologies Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Focusing on three primary areas of technology—energy efficiency, industrial electrification, and alternative fuels and energy sources—ISEED provides support for learners of all levels and empowers them to continue building the skills needed to bolster the nation’s manufacturing industry. This critical programming gives incoming and incumbent workers the knowledge needed to keep pace with innovative tools and technology, as well as making it easier for workers to transition across specific industries.
These six, newly selected organizations will further ISEED's goals to lower workforce gaps and barriers, ensure all program content is accessible, grow the participation of underrepresented groups, and integrate energy efficiency principles into industry-focused training programs. By expanding the pipelines into the manufacturing workforce and better equipping workers, this collaborative effort will drive the competitiveness of U.S. industry and support resilient manufacturing supply chains.
Selected Organizations and Projects
Project Description: Catalyst Connection seeks to develop the "WE CAN Future PA" project, which will expand industrial training across southwestern Pennsylvania by adding next-generation technology modules to existing programs, deploying professional certifications, utilizing a new Learning Lab, and placing skilled workers into the Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania industrial innovation program, aiming to train 300+ workers and support 1,200 companies over 2 years.
Project Description: MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium seeks to expand its solar and manufacturing energy diversity workforce initiatives, establishing three training centers at minority-serving institutions to provide 90 diverse students from disadvantaged communities with industry mentorship, job placement support, skills training, and certifications like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and the Energy Industry Fundamental credential 2.0.
Project Description: This project aims to develop an industrial innovation curriculum for small-to-medium-sized manufacturers in Michigan, with the potential for nationwide scaling. The initiative involves consolidating existing sustainability curricula, identifying gaps specific to small-to-medium-sized manufacturers, creating new materials, piloting training, and making revisions based on feedback.
Project Description: This project aims to expand the pipeline for skilled trades in the steel industry, focusing on workforce development in underserved areas to support energy efficiency and sustainability while collaborating with major steel producers to strengthen the talent pool and address future workforce gaps.
Project Description: Cascade Energy, LLC aims to scale and enhance its industrial refrigeration training by evolving its current curriculum into a blended, on-demand learning model, increasing accessibility and reach while supporting DOE’s strategic objectives for food-processing workers and employers. They also plan to train 350 workers over 2 years.
Project Description: This project will implement three specialized training courses including Hands-On Hot Repair, Oxy-Fuel Furnace Operations, and Sustainable Furnace Operations to improve energy efficiency in glass-melting furnaces, with assessments tracking energy efficiency and operator career progression, and the courses becoming part of a national training platform for glass manufacturing in 2025.
These projects are funded by DOE's Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office.