Section 23J:13 - Clean energy equity workforce and market development program(a) There shall be within the center a clean energy equity workforce and market development program to provide workforce training, educational and professional development, job placement, startup opportunities and grants to: (i) certified minority-owned and women-owned small business enterprises; (ii) other businesses or communities underrepresented in the clean energy workforce or clean energy industry; (iii) individuals residing within an environmental justice or low-income community; (iv) current and former workers from the fossil fuel industry; and (v) federally recognized and state acknowledged tribes within the commonwealth. The program shall promote participation, inclusive of federally recognized and state acknowledged tribes in the commonwealth, in the commonwealth's energy efficiency, clean energy and clean heating and cooling industries and promote access to employment opportunities in clean energy, clean transportation, electrification, and energy efficiency. The program shall: (i) identify the employment potential of the energy efficiency and clean energy industries and the skills and training needed for workers in those fields; (ii) support clean energy community-based programs and maximize energy efficiency and clean energy employment opportunities for members of federally recognized and state acknowledged tribes in the commonwealth, certified minority-owned and women-owned small business enterprises, other businesses or communities underrepresented in the clean energy workforce or clean energy industry and individuals residing within an environmental justice or low-income community; (iii) provide grants and support to expand employment in the clean energy, clean transportation, building electrification and energy efficiency sectors, including employment with organizations promoting climate resilience in those communities with a focus on mitigating the impacts of extreme heat and other climate-driven disasters, to federally recognized and state acknowledged tribes in the commonwealth, certified minority-owned and women-owned small business enterprises, other businesses or communities underrepresented in the clean energy workforce or clean energy industry and community-based organizations and organizations serving environmental justice and low-income communities; (iv) identify barriers to the creation of clean energy employment opportunities for federally recognized and state acknowledged tribes in the commonwealth and certified minority-owned and women-owned small business enterprises; (v) document shortcomings, including relevant statistical benchmarks and indicators, in past and current efforts to diversify workforces employed on projects and in positions in the various clean energy sectors; (vi) identify near-term employment opportunity and workforce diversification goals consistent with the state's clean energy and climate change requirements; (vii) focus on developing skills, training and employment opportunities for minority-owned businesses; (viii) make recommendations to the general court for policies to promote employment growth, workforce diversity and access to jobs in the clean energy industry; and (ix) identify opportunities for collaboration and mentorship between grant recipients and vocational schools receiving grants.(b) There shall be a program coordinator to administer the program established in subsection (a). In addition to administering the program set forth in subsection (a), the program coordinator shall prepare guidance on best practices to promote diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities in the clean energy industry. Offshore wind developers, as defined in section 83B of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, as amended, may consult the program coordinator in the development of diversity, equity and inclusion opportunity provisions within their proposals pursuant to clause (v) of paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of section 83C of said chapter 169, and the program coordinator shall provide feedback and recommendations. The program coordinator shall produce an annual report detailing: (i) the activities of the clean energy equity workforce and market development program; (ii) the progress on workforce diversity plans and supplier diversity program plans submitted by offshore wind developers pursuant to said subclause (K) of clause (v) of paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of said section 83C of said chapter 169; and (iii) plans for continued programming by the center to achieve the commonwealth's diversity, equity and inclusion goals.(c) The department of public utilities shall annually direct the electric and gas distribution companies and municipal aggregators with certified energy plans to jointly transfer funds collected pursuant to section 19 of chapter 25 to the center for the purposes of implementing the clean energy equity workforce and market development program; provided, that the electric and gas distribution companies and municipal aggregators with certified energy plans shall transfer not less than $12,000,000 no later than December 31 each year. Such transfer shall not reduce the amount expended on low-income programs pursuant to subsection (c) of said section 19 of said chapter 25.Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 23J, § 13
Amended by Acts 2022, c. 179,§ 19, eff. 8/11/2022.Added by Acts 2021, c. 8,§ 14, eff. 6/24/2021.