Clean Energy Jobs program named an industry best practice
PSE&G received a national energy equity award this week from the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) for its Clean Energy Jobs Program, an initiative designed to place up to 2,000 people from underrepresented communities into well-paying jobs supporting New Jersey’s clean energy goals.
The Energy Equity Award is a new category created by the SECC to acknowledge a provider that’s advancing a more equitable energy system.
The award recognizes the work PSE&G is doing to meet the growing need for skilled workers in New Jersey’s energy efficiency industry. PSE&G’s jobs program has already placed more than 700 people at companies that support the utility’s energy efficiency initiative. Hiring will continue through the year, including a group of candidates currently participating in a six-month training course to prepare them for jobs at businesses that deliver energy efficiency services.
PSE&G’s energy efficiency initiative, the largest commitment to energy efficiency ever in New Jersey, includes programs designed to provide environmental benefits and reduce customer bills while creating jobs and boosting the state’s economy.
“Our program is helping deserving candidates train and prepare for a New Jersey that is progressing toward a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future,” PSE&G President Kim Hanemann said. “We’re proud of this recognition and our role as pioneers in the clean energy workforce development space. We are successfully finding meaningful employment for individuals with no prior or specific experience in clean energy, but who do have intangible skills such as desire, passion, commitment, and a hard work ethic.”
The six-month program provides wrap-around services, including child care, transportation and resume preparation to help assure students are successful.
Gwendolyn Small of Newark recently completed the training program and will soon enter the energy efficiency industry.
“I’m proud to be a part of clean energy in NJ,” Small said. “In addition to industry knowledge, the training has provided me with valuable transferable skills.”
The SECC Best Practices Awards were presented in Dallas, Texas, highlighting successful electric utility programs, technologies and strategies.
More information on the winning programs can be found at www.smartenergycc.org.
PSE&G
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, serving three-quarters of the state’s population, as well as one of the nation’s largest utilities. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 20 consecutive years. PSE&G received the 2022 ENERGY STAR® “Partner of the Year” award in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category, and is a 2021 Customer Champion and Most Trusted Brand as named by Escalent. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 14 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).
