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Saratoga Springs, NY - The Building Performance Institute, Inc. is proud to announce a new partnership to grow the clean energy workforce.

While the IRA makes historic investments in the clean energy economy, careful efforts must be made to ensure that historically underrepresented groups will benefit from it. The Building Performance Institute (BPI) has partnered with New York State Energy Research & Development Agency (NYSERDA) and National Grid, a regional utility, to recruit BIPOC communities and other targeted participants into the rapidly growing residential energy efficiency field.

The National Grid Market Rate Energy Efficiency Equity Training Initiative will help to provide the necessary training of State residents to work in the energy efficiency and weatherization field. Targeted participants are employees or owners of established New York State Minority or Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), Veteran Owned Business (VOB), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) and Indigenous-owned energy services companies operating in National Grid service territory. Also included are individuals living in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) within National Grid service territory who wish to enter the energy services field in New York State.

As the premier provider of professional certifications for residential energy efficiency workers, BPI is partnering with NYSERDA and National Grid to bridge the workforce gap. This partnership draws on the strength of each stakeholder. National Grid has accurate household data to recruit from WMBEs and other targeted participants across the service area, while NYSERDA excels in coordinative strategy and deployment of public funds.

BPI has developed certifications and standards for home performance since 1993. BPI trainings and certifications help states, utilities and programs ensure that workers have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform residential energy audits and retrofit work correctly. Specifying these credentials gives stakeholders peace of mind that public and private investments result in a highly qualified workforce.

BPI partners with a network of over 100 training centers around the country to administer BPI certification exams. BPI Test Centers are technical schools, community colleges, and small businesses who are deeply embedded in their local communities.

In additional to career training and workforce development, BPI Test Centers act as resource centers, helping students connect with the supportive services they need to succeed. Test Centers are ideally placed to help historically underrepresented learners enter a new phase of life, full of opportunity and advancement.

The partnership between a regional utility, the state program, and the certifying body has promise to transform the energy efficiency workforce in New York State. BPI looks forward to collaborating with other states and utilities to replicate this promising model around the country.

To replicate this program in your area, contact lzarker@bpi.org.