Energy Workforce for the 21st Century Act of 2015

To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a comprehensive program to improve education and training for energy- and manufacturing-related jobs to increase the number of skilled workers trained to work in energy and manufacturing-related fields, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Energy Workforce for the 21st Century Act of 2015 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Community college The term community college junior or community college 20 U.S.C. 1058 (2) Department The term Department (3) Elementary school The term elementary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (4) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (5) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution (A) a historically Black college or university, which shall have the meaning given the term part B institution 20 U.S.C. 1061 (B) a Predominantly Black Institution, as defined in section 318(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b) (C) a Hispanic-serving institution, as defined in section 502(a) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a) (D) a Tribal College or University, as defined in section 316(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) (6) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory 42 U.S.C. 15801 (7) Program The term program (8) Secondary school The term secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (9) Secretary The term Secretary (10) STEM The term STEM 3. Energy and manufacturing workforce development (a) In general The Secretary shall establish and carry out a comprehensive program to improve education and training for energy- and manufacturing-related jobs in order to increase the number of skilled workers trained to work in energy- and manufacturing-related fields, including by— (1) encouraging underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals to enter into the STEM fields; (2) encouraging leaders in the education system of the United States to equip students with the skills, mentorships, training, and technical expertise necessary to fill the employment opportunities vital to managing and operating the energy- and manufacturing-related industries of the United States; (3) providing students and other candidates for employment with the opportunity to gain necessary skills and certifications for skilled, semiskilled, and highly skilled energy and manufacturing-related jobs; and (4) strengthening and more fully engaging programs of the Department and the National Laboratories in carrying out the Minorities in Energy Initiative of the Department. (b) Priority The Secretary shall make providing education and training underrepresented groups for energy and manufacturing-related jobs a national priority under the program. (c) Direct assistance (1) In general In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall provide direct assistance (including financial assistance awards, technical expertise, mentorships, internships, and partnerships) to secondary schools, community colleges, workforce development organizations, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, apprenticeship programs, tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions. (2) Distribution The Secretary shall distribute direct assistance under the program in a manner proportional to the needs and demand for jobs in the energy- and manufacturing-related industry, consistent with information obtained under subsections (e)(3) and (i). (d) Clearinghouse In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall establish a clearinghouse— (1) to maintain and update information and resources on training and workforce development programs for energy- and manufacturing-related jobs; and (2) to act as a resource, and provide guidance, for secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including community colleges and minority-serving institutions), workforce development organizations, labor management organizations, and industry organizations that would like to develop and implement energy- and manufacturing-related training programs. (e) Collaboration (1) In general In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (A) collaborate with secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities), workforce training organizations, labor organizations, National Laboratories, State energy offices, State boards and local boards (as such terms are defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 (B) in order to share best practices and approaches that best suit national, State, and local needs, encourage and foster collaboration, mentorships, and partnerships among— (i) entities (including labor organizations, industries, secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including community colleges), and workforce development organizations) that provide effective job training programs in energy- and manufacturing-related fields; and (ii) entities (including secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including community colleges), and workforce development programs) that seek to establish similar job training programs; and (C) collaborate with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the Bureau of the Census, and energy- and manufacturing-related industries to develop a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the workforce needs and opportunities of energy- and manufacturing-related industries. (2) Report The Secretary shall publish an annual report on energy- and manufacturing-related job creation as determined as a result of the collaboration under paragraph (1)(C) and sorted— (A) by the sectors described in subsection (i); and (B) by State and region. (f) Guidelines for educational institutions (1) In general In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and industry, shall develop guidelines for educational institutions of all levels, including for elementary schools, secondary schools, community colleges, and undergraduate and postbaccalaureate programs of study at institutions of higher education, to help provide graduates with the skills necessary to work in energy- and manufacturing-related jobs. (2) Input In developing guidelines under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall solicit input from the oil, gas, coal, renewable, nuclear, utility, energy-intensive and advanced manufacturing, and pipeline industries. (3) Energy and manufacturing efficiency and conservation initiatives The guidelines developed under paragraph (1) shall include grade-specific guidelines for teaching energy and manufacturing efficiency and conservation initiatives to provide education to students and families. (4) STEM education The guidelines developed under paragraph (1) shall promote STEM education as STEM relates to job opportunities in energy- and manufacturing-related fields of study in elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education (including community colleges) nationally. (g) Outreach to minority-Serving institutions In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (1) give special consideration to increasing outreach to minority-serving institutions; (2) make resources available to minority-serving institutions with the objective of increasing the number of skilled minorities and women trained to go into the energy- and manufacturing-related sectors; (3) encourage industry to improve the opportunities available for students of minority-serving institutions to participate in industry internships and cooperative work-study programs; and (4) partner with the National Laboratories to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in internships, fellowships, traineeships, and employment at the National Laboratories. (h) Outreach to displaced and unemployed energy and manufacturing workers In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (1) give special consideration to increasing outreach to employers and job trainers preparing displaced and unemployed energy and manufacturing workers for emerging energy- and manufacturing-related jobs; (2) make resources available to entities serving displaced and unemployed energy and manufacturing workers with the objective of training individuals to reenter the energy and manufacturing workforce; and (3) encourage the energy- and manufacturing-related industries to improve opportunities for displaced and unemployed energy and manufacturing workers to participate in internships and cooperative work-study programs. (i) Guidelines To develop skills for an energy and manufacturing industry workforce In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall consult with representatives from energy- and manufacturing-related industries (including the oil, gas, coal, nuclear, utility, pipeline, renewable, petrochemical, manufacturing, and electrical construction industries) to identify the areas of highest need in each sector and to develop guidelines for the skills necessary to develop a workforce trained to go into the following sectors of the energy- and manufacturing-related industries: (1) The energy efficiency industry, including work— (A) in energy efficiency, conservation, weatherization, or retrofitting; or (B) as inspectors or auditors. (2) The pipeline industry, including work— (A) in pipeline construction and maintenance; or (B) as engineers or technical advisors. (3) The utility industry, including work as utility workers, linemen, electricians, pole workers, repairmen, scientists, engineers, or mathematicians. (4) The alternative fuels industry, including work in biofuel development and production. (5) The nuclear industry, including work as scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians, or security personnel. (6) The oil and gas industry, including work as scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians, petrochemical engineers, or geologists. (7) The renewable energy industry, including work in the development, manufacturing, and production of renewable energy sources (such as solar, hydropower, wind, or geothermal energy). (8) The coal industry, including work as coal miners, engineers, developers and manufacturers of state-of-the-art coal facilities, technology vendors, coal transportation workers and operators, or mining equipment vendors. (9) The manufacturing industry, including work as operations technicians, operations and design in additive manufacturing, 3–D printing, and advanced composites, industrial energy efficiency management systems, including power electronics, and other innovative technologies. (10) The chemical manufacturing industry, including work— (A) in construction (such as welders, pipefitters, or tool and die makers); or (B) as instrument and electrical technicians, machinists, chemical process operators, chemical engineers, quality and safety professionals, or reliability engineers. (j) Enrollment in training and apprenticeship programs In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall consult with industries, labor organizations, and community-based workforce organizations 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 energy- and manufacturing-related jobs. (k) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary.

Summary: Energy Workforce for the 21st Century Act of 2015 This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a comprehensive program to improve education and training for energy- and manufacturing-related jobs, with emphasis on increasing the number of skilled individuals from underrepresented groups trained to work in those jobs.