Delgado Visits Green Careers Academy at SUNY Ulster

STONE RIDGE, NY — This afternoon, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) visited the SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge campus to meet with staff and learn more about the school’s Green Careers Academy program. Today’s discussion is part of Rep. Delgado’s in-district work week focused on environmental conservation and workforce development in upstate New York.

“I introduced the Green Jobs and Opportunity Act to prepare our workforce for the future green economy by supporting training programs to make sure students have the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow.” Delgado continued, “This bill brings together voices from colleges and universities like SUNY Ulster, as well as labor unions, green employers and environmental advocates to develop workforce training programs to meet the energy needs of the future. I’m thankful for the chance to learn more about SUNY Ulster’s Green Careers Academy and look forward to future partnerships to strengthen our upstate workforce.”

Delgado introduced the Green Jobs and Opportunity Act, environmental legislation to combat climate change and ensure the labor workforce is ready to transition to a clean energy economy. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to avoid the most severe impacts of a changing climate, there must be net-zero global emissions by 2050. Rep. Delgado’s legislation starts with the assumption of achieving this critical goal and then requires the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL) and Energy (DOE) to work backward to project current and future workforce needs and shortages in the energy sector specifically. Rep. Delgado’s legislation also establishes a National Advisory Committee on the Clean Energy Technology Workforce, made up of representatives from labor organizations, employers from clean energy fields, academia, and environmental advocacy groups, tasked with advising DOL and DOE throughout the transition process.

Earlier this month, Rep. Delgado introduced the Gateway to Careers Act to create a career pathway grant program that would fund partnerships between community or technical colleges and workforce development partners such as state workforce development boards, industry associations, and community-based organizations. These programs would support efforts to offer wrap around services including child care, opioid addiction treatment, transportation, and other forms of assistance for community college and career and technical education (CTE) students.