Clean Energy Technology Workforce Advisory Committee
Clean energy projects, such as wind energy and solar, are increasingly common within our state, as are clean energy technology projects such as clean hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel. In 2023, Governor Inslee and the legislature promulgated the Climate and Clean Energy Service Workforce Programs bill, House Bill 1176.
This legislation created a Clean Energy Technology Workforce Advisory Committee (CETWAC, or Advisory Committee) to conduct research and make policy recommendations regarding clean energy technology workforce issues within the state. The Workforce Board hired Ilene Munk as the Clean Energy Technology Workforce Policy Manager. She has more than 30 years of experience working with environmental and energy issues and served as the convenor to gather the Advisory Committee, which will be co-chaired by a representative from business and labor and staffed by the Workforce Board.
The Advisory Committee will conduct research and make policy recommendations to the legislature in support of programs and initiatives which encourage clean energy technology investment in Washington, while providing workforce development for living wage careers for the Washington workforce.
The committee received funding from the legislature in 2023 to study the feasibility of a path to retirement for workers nearing retirement in the fossil fuel industry. In addition, the committee seeks to identify transferable skills, and any training or education programs available to allow workers to find good careers in the clean energy sector.
The Advisory Committee is made up of leaders in labor, business, education, career, and training programs as well as state partners. The first report includes preliminary policy issues identified by the group to assist with clean energy technology workforce development.
Recommendations
1. The committee recommends policymakers fund grant development and management capacity for state and local agencies, tribal governments, postsecondary education and technical programs, as well as registered apprenticeship programs, to best leverage available federal funding opportunities focused on clean energy technology workforce needs. This will enable local partnerships between government, labor, business, and others to plan, solicit, and implement clean energy workforce activities.
2. The committee also recommends policymakers at the state, local and federal level address delays and work to improve the predictability of the permitting process to help business, labor, and communities plan for their workforce needs.
2023 Clean Energy Technology Workforce Advisory Committee Members
Membership in the committee is open to any interested parties. The committee is co-chaired by Todd Mitchell and Perry England. Other members include:
New! 2023 Clean Energy Technology Workforce Report
Clean Energy Technology Workforce Advisory Committe (virtual) meeting
10 a.m. May 16
More details soon!
Discuss sector by sector findings from recent reports to make sure Washington has a work-ready workforce.
Contact Ilene Munk for more information.
- Aviles, Gustavo — Washington Employment Security Department
- Brummer, Monica — Center of Excellence in Clean Energy, Centralia College
- Busch, Carolyn — Washington Department of Commerce
- Campbell, Scott — United Steel Workers
- Celt, Stephanie — Washington Department of Commerce
- Clark, Mel — Clean Technology Alliance
- England, Perry — Co-Chair — MacDonald Miller
- Frasier, Erin — Washington State Building Trades
- Geiszler, Dina — Washington Department of Commerce
- Gillett, Maya — Blue/Green Alliance
- Gattman, Nova — Washington Workforce Board
- Glazewski, Matt — Office of Financial Management
- Griffith, Kate — Grid Works
- Guzman, Peter — Department of Labor and Industries
- Hartman, Neil — Plumbers & Pipefitters Union
- Heatherington, Billy — Laborers Local 242
- Hem, Sam — Sheetmetal Workers
- Hepner, Matthew — International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Hull, Catherine — Operational Due Diligence
- Jahshan, Amanda — Paragon Strategic Partners
- Jekel, Caitlyn — Employment Security Department
- Kelley, Becky — Governor’s Office
- Keltner, Sue — Washington Employment Security Department
- Martin, Stacy — NW Laborers
- Mason-Placek, Chelsea — Washington State Labor Council
- McKinnon, Carolyn — State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
- Mitchell, Todd — Co-Chair — Washington State Building Trades
- Munk, Ilene — Washington Workforce Board
- Newton, Aubrey — NW Laborers’-Employers Cooperation and Education Team
- Nutter, Troy — Puget Sound Energy
- Scott, Stephanie — Department of Commerce
- Smith, Michael J. — United Steel Workers
- Snell, Nona — Office of Financial Management
- Sowards, Kelley — Impact Washington
- Strege, Neil — Washington Roundtable
- Theis, Eli — Amalgamated Transit Union
- Vance-Sherman, Anneliese — Employment Security Department
- Vorpahl, Sarah — Department of Commerce
- Wallace, Dave –Washington Workforce Board
- Wallace Jr., Billy — NW Laborers’-Employers Cooperation and Education Team
- Wheeless, Amy — Department of Commerce
- Wilcox, Joe — Washington Workforce Board
- Williams, Gus — City of Seattle
- Young, Brian — Department of Commerce
For more information please contact Clean Energy Technology Workforce Policy Manager Ilene Munk.