Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2021

Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2021

This bill reauthorizes and modifies the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Minority Economic Impact.

Specifically, the bill (1) renames the office as the Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment; and (2) directs the office to establish and carry out a comprehensive nationwide program to improve education and training for jobs in energy-related industries, with emphasis on increasing the number of skilled individuals from underrepresented communities trained to work in those jobs.

DOE, in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of the Census, and energy-related industries, shall establish a clearinghouse to develop resources training programs for jobs in energy-related industries and act as a resource for educational institutions and covered organizations and programs that seek to develop and implement training programs for such jobs.

In carrying out the program, DOE, in collaboration with the Department of Education, Commerce, the Department of Labor, and the National Science Foundation, shall develop voluntary guidelines or best practices for educational institutions to help provide students with the skills necessary for jobs in energy-related industries.

The office shall establish and carry out a program to provide grants to certain businesses, labor organizations, nonprofit organizations, or qualified youth or conservation corps to pay the eligible wages or stipends for individuals receiving training to work for businesses that provide services related to renewable electric energy generation and energy efficiency.

Bill 117 HR 156, also known as the Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2021, aims to create new job opportunities in the renewable energy sector for workers in traditional blue-collar industries. The bill focuses on providing training and education programs to help these workers transition to green-collar jobs, such as solar panel installation, wind turbine maintenance, and energy-efficient construction.

The legislation includes provisions for funding grants and partnerships between government agencies, educational institutions, and private sector companies to develop these training programs. It also aims to support workforce development in underserved communities and promote diversity in the renewable energy workforce.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to incentivize businesses to hire and retain workers who have completed green-collar training programs. This includes tax credits and other financial incentives for companies that hire and train workers in the renewable energy sector. Overall, the Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2021 seeks to address the growing demand for skilled workers in the renewable energy industry while also providing opportunities for workers in traditional blue-collar industries to transition to more sustainable and environmentally friendly jobs.