Massachusetts Offers Free Clean Energy Job Training

If you've been looking for a career change into a growing field, Massachusetts just made it easier to break into clean energy jobs without spending a dime on training.

Holyoke Community College received a $455,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to offer completely free training for solar installers and electricians. The program will train up to 30 people starting this fall, with no tuition, no fees, and direct connections to union apprenticeships.

The college will run two programs. An introductory course in construction, electricity, and clean energy systems launches in fall 2026. Next spring, a solar installer and electrical pre-apprenticeship program begins, setting graduates up for immediate job placement.

Classes meet at Holyoke's Dean Technical High School and include hands-on training with industry partners like solar companies PV Squared and SolaBlock. Students work directly with professionals already doing the job, learning skills that translate immediately to the workplace.

"Thanks to these grants, we've been able to connect students to career pathways that can be very challenging to get into," said Mary Wager, HCC's workforce and economic development training manager. The programs introduce students to building trades unions, particularly electrical workers and carpentry unions, plus apprenticeship opportunities that often require insider connections to access.

The funding comes from a larger $7 million investment by the Healey-Driscoll administration supporting 17 organizations across Massachusetts. The goal is training workers for roles like electricians, HVAC technicians, energy auditors, and EV charger installers as clean energy job demand surges.

Holyoke Community College was the only individual community college in Massachusetts to receive a dedicated grant. The college piloted both programs in 2025 after receiving an earlier $1.42 million grant, giving them a year to figure out what works before scaling up.

The Ripple Effect

This training does more than fill job openings. It removes the biggest barrier keeping people out of skilled trades: the catch-22 of needing experience to get hired but needing a job to gain experience.

"The first grant was really to design, develop, and essentially figure out what would work in our market," said Kermit Dunkelberg, HCC assistant vice president of adult basic education and workforce development. "Now we'll not just be continuing but refining these programs to achieve even stronger outcomes."

The jobs these programs lead to pay well above minimum wage, often with full benefits and pension plans through union membership. Solar installers in Massachusetts earn median wages around $25 per hour, with experienced electricians making significantly more.

Partners including MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, Coalition for Equitable Economy, Springfield Works, and Browning the Green Space are working to ensure the opportunity reaches communities traditionally left out of these career paths.

Thirty people will walk into these programs this year with no debt and walk out with marketable skills, union connections, and a foothold in an industry that's not slowing down anytime soon.