I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2847 
To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to establish an energy 
efficiency and renewable energy worker training program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 25, 2007 
Ms. SOLIS (for herself, Mr. TIERNEY, and Mr. MCNERNEY) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to establish 
an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker train-
ing program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Green Jobs Act of 
2007’’. 
SEC. 2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY 
WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM. 
Section 171 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
(29 U.S.C. 2916) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘(e) ENERGY EFFICIENCY
AND RENEWABLE EN-
ERGY WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of the 
Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall es-
tablish an energy efficiency and renewable en-
ergy worker training program under which the 
Secretary shall carry out the activities described 
in paragraph (2) to achieve the purposes of this 
subsection. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of pro-
viding assistance and services under the pro-
gram established under this subsection— 
‘‘(i) target populations of eligible indi-
viduals to be given priority for training 
and other services shall include— 
‘‘(I) 
veterans, 
or 
past 
and 
present members of reserve compo-
nents of the Armed Forces; 
‘‘(II) workers affected by na-
tional energy and environmental pol-
icy; 
‘‘(III) unemployed workers; 
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‘‘(IV) individuals, including at- 
risk youth, seeking employment path-
ways out of poverty and into economic 
self-sufficiency; 
‘‘(V) formerly incarcerated, adju-
dicated, non-violent offenders; and 
‘‘(VI) individuals in need of up-
dated training related to the energy 
efficiency and renewable energy indus-
tries; and 
‘‘(ii) energy efficiency and renewable 
energy industries eligible to participate in 
a program under this subsection include— 
‘‘(I) the energy-efficient building, 
construction, and retrofits industries; 
‘‘(II) the renewable electric power 
industry; 
‘‘(III) the energy efficient and 
advanced drive train vehicle industry; 
‘‘(IV) the biofuels industry; and 
‘‘(V) the deconstruction and ma-
terials use industries. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(A) NATIONAL
RESEARCH
PROGRAM.— 
Under the program established under para-
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graph (1), the Secretary, acting through the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics, shall collect and 
analyze labor market data to track workforce 
trends resulting from energy-related initiatives 
carried out under this subsection. Activities car-
ried out under this paragraph shall include— 
‘‘(i) linking research and development 
in renewable energy and energy efficiency 
technology with the development of stand-
ards and curricula for current and future 
jobs; 
‘‘(ii) the tracking and documentation 
of academic and occupational competencies 
as well as future skill needs with respect to 
renewable energy and energy efficiency 
technology; 
‘‘(iii) tracking and documentation of 
occupational information and workforce 
training data with respect to renewable en-
ergy and energy efficiency technology; 
‘‘(iv) assessing new employment and 
work practices including career ladder and 
upgrade training as well as high perform-
ance work systems; 
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‘‘(v) collaborating with State agencies, 
workforce investments boards, industry, or-
ganized labor, and community and non-
profit organizations to disseminate success-
ful innovations for labor market services 
and worker training with respect to renew-
able energy and energy efficiency tech-
nology; 
‘‘(vi) serving as a clearinghouse for 
best practices in workforce development, 
job placement, and collaborative partner-
ships; 
‘‘(vii) promoting the establishment of 
workforce training initiatives with respect 
to renewable energy and energy efficiency 
technologies; and 
‘‘(viii) providing technical assistance 
and capacity building to national and state 
energy partnerships, including industry 
and labor representatives. 
‘‘(B) NATIONAL ENERGY TRAINING PART-
NERSHIP GRANTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Under the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall award National Energy 
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Training Partnerships Grants on a com-
petitive basis to eligible entities to enable 
such entities to carry out national training 
that leads to economic self-sufficiency and 
to develop an energy efficiency and renew-
able energy industries workforce. Grants 
shall be awarded under this subparagraph 
so as to ensure geographic diversity with at 
least two grants awarded to entities lo-
cated in each of the four Petroleum Ad-
ministration for Defense Districts with no 
subdistricts, and at least one grant award-
ed to an entity located in each of the sub-
districts of the Petroleum Administration 
for Defense District with subdistricts, as 
such districts are established by the Sec-
retary of Energy. 
‘‘(ii) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to 
receive a grant under clause (i), an entity 
shall be a non-profit partnership that— 
‘‘(I) includes the equal participa-
tion of industry, including public or 
private employers, and labor organiza-
tions, including joint labor-manage-
ment training programs, and may in-
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clude community-based organizations, 
educational institutions, small busi-
nesses, cooperatives, State and local 
veterans agencies, and veterans serv-
ice organizations; and 
‘‘(II) demonstrates— 
‘‘(aa) experience in imple-
menting and operating worker 
skills training and education pro-
grams; 
‘‘(bb) the ability to identify 
and involve in training programs 
carried out under this grant, tar-
get populations of workers who 
are, or will be engaged in, activi-
ties related to energy efficiency 
and renewable energy industries; 
and 
‘‘(cc) the ability to help 
workers achieve economic self- 
sufficiency. 
‘‘(iii) ACTIVITIES.—Activities to be 
carried out under a grant under this sub-
paragraph may include— 
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‘‘(I) the provision of occupational 
skills training, including curriculum 
development, on-the-job training, and 
classroom training; 
‘‘(II) the provision of safety and 
health training; 
‘‘(III) the provision of basic 
skills, literacy, GED, English as a 
second language, and job readiness 
training; 
‘‘(IV) individual referral and tui-
tion assistance for a community col-
lege training program; 
‘‘(V) the provision of customized 
training in conjunction with an exist-
ing registered apprenticeship program 
or labor-management partnership; 
‘‘(VI) the provision of career lad-
der and upgrade training; 
‘‘(VII) the implementation of 
transitional jobs strategies; and 
‘‘(VIII) the provision of sup-
portive services. 
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‘‘(C) STATE
LABOR
MARKET
RESEARCH, 
INFORMATION, 
AND
LABOR
EXCHANGE
RE-
SEARCH PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Under the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall award competitive grants to 
States to enable such States to administer 
labor market and labor exchange informa-
tion programs that include the implemen-
tation of the activities described in clause 
(ii). 
‘‘(ii) ACTIVITIES.—A State shall use 
amounts awarded under a grant under this 
subparagraph to provide funding to the 
State agency that administers the Wagner- 
Peyser Act and State unemployment com-
pensation programs to carry out the fol-
lowing activities using State agency merit 
staff: 
‘‘(I) The identification of job 
openings in the renewable energy and 
energy efficiency sector. 
‘‘(II) The administration of skill 
and aptitude testing and assessment 
for workers. 
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‘‘(III) The counseling, case man-
agement, and referral of qualified job 
seekers to openings and training pro-
grams, including energy efficiency and 
renewable energy training programs. 
‘‘(D) STATE ENERGY TRAINING PARTNER-
SHIP PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Under the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall award competitive grants to 
States to enable such States to administer 
renewable energy and energy efficiency 
workforce development programs that in-
clude the implementation of the activities 
described in clause (ii). 
‘‘(ii) ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—A State shall 
use amounts awarded under a grant 
under this subparagraph to award 
competitive grants to eligible State 
Energy Sector Partnerships to enable 
such Partnerships to coordinate with 
existing 
apprenticeship 
and 
labor 
management training programs and 
implement training programs that 
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lead to the economic self-sufficiency of 
trainees. 
‘‘(II) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligi-
ble to receive a grant under this sub-
paragraph, a State Energy Sector 
Partnership shall— 
‘‘(aa) consist of non-profit 
organizations that include equal 
participation from industry, in-
cluding public or private non-
profit employers, and labor orga-
nizations, including joint labor- 
management training programs, 
and may include representatives 
from local governments, worker 
investment agency one-stop ca-
reer centers, community based 
organizations, 
community 
col-
leges, and other post-secondary 
institutions, small businesses, co-
operatives, State and local vet-
erans 
agencies, 
and 
veterans 
service organizations; 
‘‘(bb) demonstrate experi-
ence in implementing and oper-
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ating worker skills training and 
education programs; and 
‘‘(cc) demonstrate the ability 
to identify and involve in training 
programs, target populations of 
workers who are, or will be en-
gaged in, activities related to en-
ergy efficiency and renewable en-
ergy industries. 
‘‘(iii) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants 
under this subparagraph, the Secretary 
shall give priority to States that dem-
onstrate that activities under the grant— 
‘‘(I) meet national energy policies 
associated with energy efficiency, re-
newable energy, and the reduction of 
emissions of greenhouse gases; and 
‘‘(II) meet State energy policies 
associated with energy efficiency, re-
newable energy, and the reduction of 
emissions of greenhouse gases. 
‘‘(iv) 
COORDINATION.—A 
grantee 
under this subparagraph shall coordinate 
activities carried out under the grant with 
existing apprenticeship and labor manage-
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ment training programs and implement 
training programs that lead to the eco-
nomic self-sufficiency of trainees, including 
providing— 
‘‘(I) outreach and recruitment 
services, in coordination with the ap-
propriate State agency; 
‘‘(II) occupational skills training, 
including curriculum development, on- 
the-job training, and classroom train-
ing; 
‘‘(III) safety and health training; 
‘‘(IV) basic skills, literacy, GED, 
English as a second language, and job 
readiness training; 
‘‘(V) individual referral and tui-
tion assistance for a community col-
lege training program; 
‘‘(VI) customized training in con-
junction with an existing registered 
apprenticeship program or labor-man-
agement partnership; 
‘‘(VII) career ladder and upgrade 
training; 
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‘‘(VIII) services under transi-
tional jobs strategies; and 
‘‘(IX) supportive services. 
‘‘(E) PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Under the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall award at least 10 competi-
tive grants to eligible entities to enable 
such entities to carry out training that 
leads to economic self-sufficiency. The Sec-
retary shall give priority to entities that 
serve individuals in families with income of 
less than 200 percent of the poverty 
threshold (as determined by the Bureau of 
the Census) or a self-sufficiency standard 
for the local areas where the training is 
conducted that specifies the income needs 
of families, by family size, the number and 
ages of children in the family, and sub- 
State geographical considerations. Grants 
shall be awards to ensure geographic diver-
sity. 
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‘‘(ii) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eli-
gible to receive a grant an entity shall be 
a partnership that— 
‘‘(I) includes community-based 
non-profit organizations and edu-
cational institutions with expertise in 
serving low-income adults or youth, 
public or private employers from the 
industry sectors described in para-
graph (1)(B)(ii), labor organizations 
representing workers in such industry 
sectors; 
‘‘(II) demonstrates experience in 
implementing and operating worker 
skills training and education pro-
grams; and 
‘‘(III) demonstrates the ability to 
recruit individuals for training and to 
support such individuals to successful 
completion in training programs car-
ried out under this grant, targeting 
populations of workers who are or will 
be engaged in activities related to en-
ergy efficiency and renewable energy 
industries. 
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‘‘(iii) 
PRIORITIES.—In 
awarding 
grants under this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall give priority to applicants that— 
‘‘(I) target programs to benefit 
low-income 
workers, 
unemployed 
youth and adults, high school drop-
outs, or other underserved sectors of 
the workforce within areas of high 
poverty; 
‘‘(II) ensure that supportive serv-
ices are integrated with education and 
training, and delivered by organiza-
tions with direct access to and experi-
ence with targeted populations; 
‘‘(III) leverage additional public 
and private resources to fund training 
programs, including cash or in-kind 
matches from participating employers; 
‘‘(IV) 
involve 
employers 
and 
labor organizations in the determina-
tion of relevant skills and com-
petencies and ensure that the certifi-
cates or credentials that result from 
the training are employer-recognized; 
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‘‘(V) deliver courses at alter-
native times (such as evening and 
weekend 
programs) 
and 
locations 
most convenient and accessible to par-
ticipants; and 
‘‘(VI) link adult remedial edu-
cation with occupational skills train-
ing. 
‘‘(iv) ACTIVITIES.—Activities to be 
carried out may include— 
‘‘(I) outreach, recruitment, career 
guidance, counseling, and case man-
agement services; 
‘‘(II) occupational skills training, 
on-the-job training, customized train-
ing, and classroom training; 
‘‘(III) supportive services; 
‘‘(IV) basic skills, literacy, GED, 
English as a second language, and job 
readiness training; 
‘‘(V) career ladder and upgrade 
training; and 
‘‘(VI) transitional jobs strategies. 
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‘‘(v) DATA
COLLECTION.—Grantees 
shall collect and report the following infor-
mation: 
‘‘(I) The number of participants. 
‘‘(II) The demographic character-
istics of participants, including race, 
gender, age, parenting status, partici-
pation in other Federal programs, 
education and literacy level at entry, 
significant barriers to employment 
(such as limited English proficiency, 
criminal record, addiction or mental 
health problem requiring treatment, 
or mental disability). 
‘‘(III) The services received by 
participants, including training, edu-
cation, and supportive services. 
‘‘(IV) The amount of program 
spending per participant. 
‘‘(V) Program completion rates. 
‘‘(VI) Other factors determined 
as significantly interfering with pro-
gram participation or completion. 
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‘‘(VII) The rate of Job placement 
and the rate of employment retention 
after 1 year. 
‘‘(VIII) The average wage at 
placement, including any benefits, and 
the rate of average wage increase 
after 1 year. 
‘‘(IX) Any post-employment sup-
portive services provided. 
The Secretary shall assist grantees in the 
collection of data under this clause by 
making available, where practicable, low- 
cost means of tracking the labor market 
outcomes of participants. 
‘‘(3) 
WORKER
PROTECTIONS
AND
NON-
DISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) APPLICATION
OF
WIA.—The provi-
sions of sections 181 and 188 of the Workforce 
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2931 and 
2938) shall apply to all programs carried out 
with assistance under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) CONSULTATION WITH LABOR ORGANI-
ZATIONS.—If a labor organization represents a 
substantial number of workers who are engaged 
in similar work or training in an area that is 
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