As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced funding for states to begin training a new generation of residential energy contractors. Funded by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, the State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants Program will provide $150 million in grants for states to reduce the cost of training, testing, and certifying residential energy efficiency and electrification contractors. Also referred to as Contractor Training Grants, the program will provide states with funds to develop and implement workforce training programs for residential efficiency and electrification projects to help Americans save money on their energy bills. This funding will attract and educate new workers in the energy efficiency industry, train and empower existing workers, and support business owners to make homes healthier and more energy efficient, which are key to advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic climate agenda and Bidenomics strategy for growing the economy from the middle out and bottom up. 

“As our nation moves towards a clean energy future, there is a growing demand for trained, certified workers to make homes more energy efficient,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to President's Biden's Investing in America agenda, this historic investment will strengthen our nation’s clean energy workforce and economic opportunity, attract new talent, and help tackle the climate crisis.” 

The Contractor Training Grants will empower the states to not only cultivate a new generation of workers, but also train their current workforce to fulfill current market and energy efficiency needs. Workers trained by Contractor Training Grants will be well-prepared to implement energy upgrades that could potentially qualify for rebates under the Home Energy Rebates Program and help save consumers money on their energy bills. Authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, the program will issue $8.8 billion to state energy offices to retrofit and electrify homes. 

Today, DOE is releasing the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document, which provides guidance for states, territories, and Washington, D.C. to apply for formula funding that assists with the development and implementation of Contractor Training Grant programs that meet their local workforce needs. Applications are due September 30, 2023.To support the goal of building a clean and equitable energy economy, all applicants must submit a Community Benefit Plan that describes how their proposal will support local community and labor engagement; invest in our nation’s workforce by creating an environment for success; advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the workforce; and contribute the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.  

Visit the Contractor Training Grants program webpage to stay up-to-date on program announcements including an upcoming webinar that will answer questions regarding the application process.  

Through the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, DOE is overseeing the administration of these programs, and working to ensure that no communities are left behind in the transition to a clean energy future. These programs align with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, ensuring that 40 percent of the overall benefits of clean energy investments make a difference in communities that are energy burdened and historically underserved. For more information, visit the Contractor Training Grants Program website. 

For more info, visit energy.gov