Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019

To promote a 21st century energy workforce, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Apprenticeship The term apprenticeship 29 U.S.C. 50 National Apprenticeship Act (2) Educational institution The term educational institution (A) an elementary school; (B) a secondary school; and (C) an institution of higher education. (3) Elementary school The term elementary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (4) Energy-related industry The term energy-related industry (A) The energy efficiency industry. (B) The renewable energy industry. (C) The chemical manufacturing industry. (D) The utility industry. (E) The alternative fuels industry. (F) The pipeline industry. (G) The nuclear energy industry. (H) The oil and gas industry. (I) The coal industry. (5) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1002 (6) Labor organization The term labor organization 29 U.S.C. 152 (7) Local workforce development board The term local workforce development board local board 29 U.S.C. 3102 (8) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution (A) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a) (B) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) (C) an Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) (D) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) (E) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b) (F) a Native American-serving nontribal institution (as defined in section 319(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059f(b) (G) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in section 320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059g(b) (9) Secondary school The term secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (10) Secretary The term Secretary (11) State workforce development board The term State workforce development board State board 29 U.S.C. 3102 (12) Workforce development program The term workforce development program 29 U.S.C. 3102 3. Energy workforce development program (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish and carry out a comprehensive and nationwide program (referred to in this section as the program (b) Workforce development (1) In general In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (A) encourage underrepresented groups, including religious and ethnic minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, unemployed energy workers, and so­cio­eco­nom­ic­al­ly disadvantaged individuals, to enter into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; (B) encourage educational institutions to provide students with mentors and equip students with the skills, training, and technical expertise necessary to fill the employment opportunities vital to managing and operating energy-related industries; (C) provide internships, fellowships, traineeships, apprenticeships, and employment at the Department of Energy, including at National Laboratories; (D) provide research grants and technical assistance to institutions of higher education, with priority given to minority-serving institutions; (E) provide students and other candidates for employment with the necessary skills and certifications for skilled, semiskilled, and highly skilled jobs in energy-related industries; (F) ensure that the program is in alignment with the Minorities in Energy Initiative of the Department of Energy; (G) engage with other programs and laboratories in the Department of Energy that are carrying out the Minorities in Energy Initiative of the Department of Energy; and (H) to the maximum extent practicable, collaborate with and support State workforce development programs to maximize the efficiency of the program. (2) Priority In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall prioritize the education and training of underrepresented groups for jobs in energy-related industries. (c) Direct assistance (1) In general To carry out the program, the Secretary shall provide direct assistance (including financial assistance awards, technical expertise, and guidance on internships) to educational institutions, local workforce development boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, and apprenticeship programs. (2) Distribution The Secretary shall distribute direct assistance under paragraph (1) in a manner that— (A) is proportional to the needs of, and demand for jobs in, an energy-related industry; and (B) is consistent with the information obtained under subsections (e)(3) and (j). (d) Resource center The Secretary shall establish an online resource center— (1) to maintain and update information and resources on training programs for jobs in energy-related industries (including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in energy-related industries); and (2) as a resource for educational institutions, local workforce development boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, and apprenticeship programs that would like to develop and implement training programs for the jobs described in paragraph (1). (e) Collaboration and report In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (1) collaborate with educational institutions, local workforce development boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, apprenticeship programs, and energy-related industries; (2) to facilitate the sharing of best practices and approaches that best suit local, State, and national needs, encourage and foster collaboration, mentorship, and partnership between— (A) industry, local workforce development boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, and apprenticeship programs that provide effective training programs for jobs in energy-related industries; and (B) educational institutions that seek to establish those programs; and (3) collaborate with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the Bureau of the Census, and energy-related industries— (A) to develop a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the workforce needs of and job opportunities in energy-related industries, by State and by region; and (B) to publish an annual report on job creation in the energy-related industries described in subparagraphs (A) through (L) of subsection (j)(2). (f) Guidelines for educational institutions (1) In general The Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, and the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall develop and provide to educational institutions voluntary guidelines or best practices for providing graduates with skills necessary for jobs in energy-related industries (including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in energy-related industries). (2) Input from industry In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall solicit input from energy-related industries. (3) Energy efficiency and conservation initiatives The voluntary guidelines or best practices developed under paragraph (1) shall include grade-specific guidelines for teaching students and families of students energy efficiency technology, manufacturing efficiency technology, community energy resiliency, and conservation initiatives. (4) STEM education The guidelines or best practices developed under paragraph (1) shall promote education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as it relates to job opportunities in the energy-related industries described in subsection (j)(2). (g) Outreach to minority-Serving institutions The Secretary shall— (1) give special consideration to increasing outreach to minority-serving institutions; (2) make resources available to minority-serving institutions to increase the number of skilled minorities and women qualified for jobs in energy-related industries (including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in energy-related industries); (3) encourage energy-related industries to improve opportunities for students of minority-serving institutions to participate in industry internships and cooperative work-study programs; and (4) work with the laboratories of the Department of Energy to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in internships, fellowships, training programs, and employment at those laboratories. (h) Outreach to displaced and unemployed energy workers The Secretary shall— (1) give special consideration to increasing outreach to employers and job trainers preparing displaced and unemployed energy workers for emerging jobs in energy-related industries (including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in energy-related industries); (2) make resources available to institutions that serve displaced and unemployed energy workers to increase the number of individuals trained for jobs in energy-related industries (including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs in energy-related industries); and (3) encourage energy-related industries to improve opportunities for displaced and unemployed energy workers to participate in industry internships and cooperative work-study programs. (i) Enrollment in training and apprenticeship programs The Secretary shall collaborate with industry, local workforce development boards, State workforce development boards, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, and apprenticeship programs to help identify students and other candidates, including from underrepresented communities such as minorities, women, and veterans, to enroll in training and apprenticeship programs for jobs in energy-related industries. (j) Guidelines To develop skills for an energy industry workforce The Secretary shall, in collaboration with energy-related industries— (1) identify the areas within each energy-related industry that has the greatest demand for workers; and (2) develop guidelines for the skills necessary to work in each of the following energy-related industries: (A) The energy efficiency industry, including work in conservation, weatherization, retrofitting, and inspection and auditing of the industry. (B) The renewable energy industry, including work in the development, engineering, manufacturing, and production of renewable energy from renewable energy sources (such as solar, hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy). (C) The community energy resiliency industry, including work in installation of rooftop solar, battery storage, and microgrid technologies. (D) The fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry. (E) The manufacturing industry, including work in operations technology, operations and design in additive manufacturing, 3-dimensional printing, advanced composites and advanced aluminum and other metal alloys, industrial energy efficiency management systems (including power electronics), and other innovative technologies. (F) The chemical manufacturing industry, including work in construction (such as welding, pipefitting, and tool and die making) and in the position of instrument and electrical technician, machinist, chemical process operator, engineer, quality and safety professional, or reliability engineer. (G) The utility industry, including work in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and natural gas, and in the position of electrician, dispatcher, utility technician, operator, lineworker, engineer, scientist, or information technology specialist. (H) The alternative fuels industry, including work in biofuel development and production. (I) The pipeline industry, including work in pipeline construction and maintenance and in the position of engineer or technical advisor. (J) The nuclear industry, including in the position of scientist, engineer, technician, mathematician, or security personnel. (K) The oil and gas industry, including in the position of scientist, engineer, technician, mathematician, petrochemical engineer, or geologist. (L) The coal industry, including in the position of coal miner, engineer, developer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art coal facilities, technology vendor, coal transportation worker or operator, or mining equipment vendor. 4. Energy workforce grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) (i) is directly involved with energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, or reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as determined by the Secretary; or (ii) works on behalf of a business or labor management organization that is directly involved with energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, or reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) provides services related to— (i) renewable electric energy generation, including solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and other renewable electric energy generation technologies; (ii) energy efficiency, including energy efficient lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, air source heat pumps, advanced building materials, insulation and air sealing, and other high efficiency products and services, and auditing and inspection in energy efficiency; (iii) grid modernization or energy storage, including smart grid, microgrid and other distributed energy solutions, demand response management, and home energy management technology; (iv) advanced technologies that improve the conversion, use, and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels, including carbon capture and storage and direct air capture; (v) nuclear energy, including nuclear research, development, demonstration, and commercial application; or (vi) fuel cell and hybrid fuel cell generation. (2) Labor management organization The term labor management organization (b) Establishment (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible entities to pay the wages of a new or existing employee during the time period in which the employee receives training to work in the renewable energy sector, energy efficiency sector, or grid modernization sector. (2) Guidelines Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders, contractors, and organizations that work to advance existing residential energy efficiency, shall establish guidelines for the program under paragraph (1) to determine the criteria for— (A) the wages or stipends that shall be paid using the grant funds; and (B) training received by an employee that qualifies under the program. (c) Grants (1) In general An eligible entity desiring a grant under subsection (b)(1) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Priority for targeted communities In providing grants under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that— (A) recruits employees— (i) from the one or more communities that are served by the eligible entity; and (ii) that are minorities, women, veterans, individuals who are or were foster children, or individuals who are tran­si­tion­ing from fossil energy sector jobs; and (B) provides trainees with the opportunity to obtain real-world experience. (3) Use of grants An eligible entity may use a grant received under subsection (b)(1)— (A) in the case of an eligible entity with 20 or fewer employees, to pay not more than— (i) 45 percent of the wages of an employee for the duration of the training, if the training is provided by the eligible entity; and (ii) 90 percent of the wages of an employee for the duration of the training, if the training is provided by an entity other than the eligible entity; (B) in the case of an eligible entity with 21 to 99 employees, to pay not more than— (i) 37.5 percent of the wages of an employee for the duration of the training, if the training is provided by the eligible entity; and (ii) 75 percent of the wages of an employee for the duration of the training, if the training is provided by an entity other than the eligible entity; and (C) in the case of an eligible entity with not less than 100 employees, to pay not more than— (i) 25 percent of the wages of an employee for the duration of the training, if the training is provided by the eligible entity; and (ii) 50 percent of the wages of an employee for the duration of the training, if the training is provided by an entity other than the eligible entity. (4) Grant amount An eligible entity may not receive more than $100,000 per fiscal year under subsection (b)(1). (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.

Summary: Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and carry out a comprehensive nationwide program to improve education and training for jobs in energy-related industries with existing or expected worker shortages. Emphasis shall be placed on increasing the number of skilled individuals from underrepresented groups trained to work in those jobs. DOE must establish an online resource center to maintain and update information and resources on training programs for such jobs; and as a resource for specified agencies, organizations, and apprenticeship programs working to develop and implement training programs for the jobs. The Department of Labor must provide grants to certain businesses or labor management organizations to pay the wages of employees when they are receiving training for jobs in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid modernization sectors or for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.