I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1315 
To amend title II of the Department of Energy Organization Act to reauthor-
ize an office within the Department of Energy, to direct the Secretary 
of Energy to establish and carry out a comprehensive, nationwide energy- 
related industries jobs program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 
Mr. RUSH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title II of the Department of Energy Organization 
Act to reauthorize an office within the Department of 
Energy, to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish 
and carry out a comprehensive, nationwide energy-related 
industries jobs program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 
2019’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND 
EMPLOYMENT 
Sec. 101. Name of office. 
Sec. 102. Energy workforce development programs. 
Sec. 103. Authorization. 
TITLE II—ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 
Sec. 201. Energy workforce development. 
Sec. 202. Energy workforce grant program. 
Sec. 203. Definitions. 
TITLE I—OFFICE OF ECONOMIC 
IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND EM-
PLOYMENT 
SEC. 101. NAME OF OFFICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 211 of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7141) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘MINOR-
ITY ECONOMIC IMPACT’’ and inserting ‘‘ECONOMIC 
IMPACT, DIVERSITY, AND EMPLOYMENT’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Office of Mi-
nority Economic Impact’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of 
Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents for the Department of Energy Organization Act is 
amended by amending the item relating to section 211 to 
read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 211. Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment.’’. 
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SEC. 
102. 
ENERGY 
WORKFORCE 
DEVELOPMENT 
PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 211 of the Department of Energy Organiza-
tion Act (42 U.S.C. 7141) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as 
subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall 
establish and carry out the programs described in sections 
201 and 202 of the Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs De-
velopment Act of 2019.’’. 
SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION. 
Subsection (h) of section 211 of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7141), as redesig-
nated by section 102 of this Act, is amended by striking 
‘‘not to exceed $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, not to ex-
ceed $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, and not to exceed 
$6,000,000 for fiscal year 1981. Of the amounts so appro-
priated each fiscal year, not less than 50 percent shall be 
available for purposes of financial assistance under sub-
section (e).’’ and inserting ‘‘$100,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
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(2) shall encourage and foster collaboration, 
mentorships, and partnerships among industry, local 
workforce development boards, State workforce de-
velopment boards, nonprofit organizations, labor or-
ganizations, and apprenticeship programs that cur-
rently provide effective training programs for jobs in 
energy-related industries and educational institutions 
that seek to establish these types of programs in 
order to share best practices and approaches that 
best suit local, State, and national needs; and 
(3) shall collaborate with the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, the Department of Commerce, the Bureau 
of the Census, and energy-related industries to— 
(A) develop a comprehensive and detailed 
understanding of the workforce needs of such 
energy-related industries, and job opportunities 
in such energy-related industries, by State and 
by region; and 
(B) publish an annual report on job cre-
ation in the energy-related industries described 
in subsection (i)(2). 
(f) 
GUIDELINES
FOR
EDUCATIONAL
INSTITU-
TIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program 
established under subsection (a), the Secretary, in 
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collaboration with the Secretary of Education, the 
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, and 
the National Science Foundation, shall develop vol-
untary guidelines or best practices for educational 
institutions to help provide graduates with the skills 
necessary for jobs in energy-related industries, in-
cluding manufacturing, engineering, construction, 
and retrofitting jobs in such energy-related indus-
tries. 
(2) INPUT.—The Secretary shall solicit input 
from energy-related industries in developing guide-
lines or best practices under paragraph (1). 
(3) ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION 
INITIATIVES.—The guidelines or best practices devel-
oped under paragraph (1) shall include grade-spe-
cific guidelines for teaching energy efficiency tech-
nology, manufacturing efficiency technology, commu-
nity energy resiliency, and conservation initiatives to 
educate students and families. 
(4) STEM EDUCATION.—The guidelines or best 
practices developed under paragraph (1) shall pro-
mote STEM education in educational institutions as 
it relates to job opportunities in energy-related in-
dustries. 
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(g) OUTREACH
TO
MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITU-
TIONS.—In carrying out the program established under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) give special consideration to increasing out-
reach to minority-serving institutions; 
(2) make resources available to minority-serving 
institutions with the objective of increasing the num-
ber of skilled minorities and women trained for jobs 
in energy-related industries, including manufac-
turing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting 
jobs in such energy-related industries; 
(3) encourage energy-related industries to im-
prove the opportunities for students of minority- 
serving institutions to participate in industry intern-
ships and cooperative work-study programs; and 
(4) partner with the Department of Energy lab-
oratories to increase underrepresented groups’ par-
ticipation in internships, fellowships, traineeships, 
and employment at all Department of Energy lab-
oratories. 
(h) OUTREACH TO DISPLACED AND UNEMPLOYED 
ENERGY WORKERS.—In carrying out the program estab-
lished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) give special consideration to increasing out-
reach to employers and job trainers preparing dis-
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placed and unemployed energy workers for emerging 
jobs in energy-related industries, including manufac-
turing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting 
jobs in such energy-related industries; 
(2) make resources available to institutions 
serving displaced and unemployed energy workers 
with the objective of increasing the number of indi-
viduals trained for jobs in energy-related industries, 
including manufacturing, engineering, construction, 
and retrofitting jobs in such energy-related indus-
tries; and 
(3) encourage energy-related industries to im-
prove opportunities for displaced and unemployed 
energy workers to participate in industry internships 
and cooperative work-study programs. 
(i) GUIDELINES TO DEVELOP SKILLS FOR AN EN-
ERGY INDUSTRY WORKFORCE.—In carrying out the pro-
gram established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, 
in collaboration with energy-related industries— 
(1) identify the areas with the greatest demand 
for workers in each such industry; and 
(2) develop guidelines for the skills necessary 
for work in the following energy-related industries: 
(A) Energy efficiency industry, including 
work in energy efficiency, conservation, weath-
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erization, retrofitting, or as inspectors or audi-
tors. 
(B) Renewable energy industry, including 
work in the development, engineering, manufac-
turing, and production of renewable energy 
from renewable energy sources (such as solar, 
hydropower, wind, or geothermal energy). 
(C) Community energy resiliency industry, 
including work in the installation of rooftop 
solar, in battery storage, and in microgrid tech-
nologies. 
(D) Fuel cell and hydrogen energy indus-
try. 
(E) Manufacturing industry, including 
work as operations technicians, in operations 
and design in additive manufacturing, 3–D 
printing, and advanced composites and ad-
vanced aluminum and other metal alloys, indus-
trial energy efficiency management systems, in-
cluding power electronics, and other innovative 
technologies. 
(F) Chemical manufacturing industry, in-
cluding work in construction (such as welders, 
pipefitters, and tool and die makers) or as in-
strument and electrical technicians, machinists, 
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chemical process operators, engineers, quality 
and safety professionals, and reliability engi-
neers. 
(G) Utility industry, including work in the 
generation, transmission, and distribution of 
electricity and natural gas, such as utility tech-
nicians, operators, lineworkers, engineers, sci-
entists, and information technology specialists. 
(H) Alternative fuels industry, including 
work in biofuel development and production. 
(I) Pipeline industry, including work in 
pipeline construction and maintenance or work 
as engineers or technical advisors. 
(J) Nuclear industry, including work as 
scientists, engineers, technicians, mathemati-
cians, or security personnel. 
(K) Oil and gas industry, including work 
as scientists, engineers, technicians, mathemati-
cians, petrochemical engineers, or geologists. 
(L) Coal industry, including work as coal 
miners, engineers, developers and manufactur-
ers of state-of-the-art coal facilities, technology 
vendors, coal transportation workers and opera-
tors, or mining equipment vendors. 
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(j) ENROLLMENT IN TRAINING AND APPRENTICE-
SHIP PROGRAMS.—In carrying out the program estab-
lished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall work with 
industry, local workforce development boards, State work-
force development boards, nonprofit organizations, labor 
organizations, and apprenticeship programs to help iden-
tify students and other candidates, including from under-
represented communities such as minorities, women, and 
veterans, to enroll into training and apprenticeship pro-
grams for jobs in energy-related industries. 
(k) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. 
SEC. 202. ENERGY WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the Office of Economic Im-
pact, Diversity, and Employment, shall establish and 
carry out a program to provide grants to eligible 
businesses to pay the wages of new and existing em-
ployees during the time period that such employees 
are receiving training to work in the renewable en-
ergy sector, energy efficiency sector, or grid mod-
ernization sector. 
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(2) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
consultation with stakeholders, contractors, and or-
ganizations that work to advance existing residential 
energy efficiency, shall establish guidelines to iden-
tify training that is eligible for purposes of the pro-
gram established pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under the program established under subsection (a) or a 
business or labor management organization that is directly 
involved with energy efficiency or renewable energy tech-
nology, or working on behalf of any such business, shall 
provide services related to— 
(1) renewable electric energy generation, includ-
ing solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and other 
renewable electric energy generation technologies; 
(2) 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, including auditing and inspec-
tion; 
(3) grid modernization or energy storage, in-
cluding smart grid, microgrid and other distributed 
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energy solutions, demand response management, and 
home energy management technology; or 
(4) fuel cell and hybrid fuel cell generation. 
(c) USE OF GRANTS.—An eligible business with— 
(1) 20 or fewer employees may use a grant pro-
vided under the program established under sub-
section (a) to pay up to— 
(A) 45 percent of an employee’s wages for 
the duration of the training, if the training is 
provided by the eligible business; and 
(B) 90 percent of an employee’s wages for 
the duration of the training, if the training is 
provided by an entity other than the eligible 
business; 
(2) 21 to 99 employees may use a grant pro-
vided under the program established under sub-
section (a) to pay up to— 
(A) 37.5 percent of an employee’s wages 
for the duration of the training, if the training 
is provided by the eligible business; and 
(B) 75 percent of an employee’s wages for 
the duration of the training, if the training is 
provided by an entity other than the eligible 
business; and 
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(3) 100 employees or more may use a grant 
provided under the program established under sub-
section (a) to pay up to— 
(A) 25 percent of an employee’s wages for 
the duration of the training, if the training is 
provided by the eligible business; and 
(B) 50 percent of an employee’s wages for 
the duration of the training, if the training is 
provided by an entity other than the eligible 
business. 
(d) PRIORITY
FOR TARGETED COMMUNITIES.—In 
providing grants under the program established under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
businesses that— 
(1) recruit employees— 
(A) from the communities that the busi-
nesses serve; and 
(B) that are minorities, women, persons 
who are or were foster children, persons who 
are transitioning from fossil energy sector jobs, 
or veterans; and 
(2) provide trainees with the opportunity to ob-
tain real-world experience. 
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(e) LIMIT.—An eligible business may not receive 
more than $100,000 under the program established under 
subsection (a) per fiscal year. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. 
SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPRENTICESHIP.—The term ‘‘apprentice-
ship’’ means an apprenticeship registered under the 
Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the 
‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chap-
ter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). 
(2) EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘educational institution’’ means an elementary 
school, secondary school, or institution of higher 
education. 
(3) ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
AND
SECONDARY 
SCHOOL.—The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ have the meanings given such terms 
in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(4) ENERGY-RELATED
INDUSTRY.—The term 
‘‘energy-related industry’’ includes each of the en-
ergy efficiency, renewable energy, chemical manufac-
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turing, utility, alternative fuels, pipeline, nuclear en-
ergy, oil, gas, and coal industries. 
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 102 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
(6) LABOR ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘labor 
organization’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 
U.S.C. 152). 
(7) 
LOCAL
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT 
BOARD.—The term ‘‘local workforce development 
board’’ means a local board, as defined in section 3 
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(8) 
MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means an insti-
tution of higher education that is of one of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Hispanic-serving institution (as de-
fined in section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5))). 
(B) Tribal College or University (as de-
fined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))). 
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