Clean Energy Grant
HCC awarded $455K grant for clean energy careers training
Holyoke Community College has been awarded a $455,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to continue and refine its clean energy careers training programs.
In particular, the grant will pay for two free training programs for up to 30 individuals, Introductory Training in Construction, Electricity and Clean Energy Systems in fall 2026, and Solar Installer / Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship program in spring 2027.
HCC piloted both programs in 2025 after receiving an $1.42 million grant the Mass. Executive Office of Eduation for climate-related workforce training initiatives. The MassCEC award is part of $7 million allocation in clean energy and climatetech grants announced last month by the Healey-Driscoll administration.
“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 MassCEC grants will support 17 organizations through four programs: Equity Training Implementation; Climate Critical Training, Equipment and Infrastructure; Climate Critical Underrepresented Business Support; and Student and Young Adult Career Awareness and Training. They are designed to help local organizations expand inclusive training, career awareness, and business support for jobs such as electricians , solar technicians, HVAC-R technicians, energy auditors, refrigeration technicians, and EV charger technicians.
HCC received its grant through the Equity Training Implementation program track.
HCC was the only community college in Massachusetts to receive a dedicated grant, while the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, a consortium of all 15 community colleges in the state, received $120,000 to support HVAC programs across the community college system.
“Massachusetts is leading the nation in clean energy and climatetech, and that leadership depends on a strong, skilled workforce,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “These investments will connect with residents across the state to good-paying careers while helping employers meet growing demand. We are building a clean energy economy that creates opportunity in every region and real jobs for Massachusetts workers.”
HCC’s key partners in the grant are Holyoke’s Dean Technical High School, where the clean energy training classes meet, and solar industry companies PV Squared and SolaBlock.
Other partners include MassHire Hampden Country Workforce Board, Coalition for Equitable Economy, Springfield Works, Browning the Green Space, and the Entrepreneurship & Business Collaborative.
“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 workforce and economic development training manager. “Through our programs and partnerships, students are introduced the building trades unions, in particular, the electrical workers union and carpentry union, as well as solar installer and electrical apprenticeship opportunities.”
Since 2025, HCC has run the introductory clean energy introductory program three times, the solar tech program once, a weatherization program two times, and recently introduced an Introduction to Manufacturing and Clean Energy Applications pilot program.
“These programs are creating opportunities for underserved populations,” said Dunkelberg. “It’s not just opening the pathways but reaching deeply into the community to create the access that’s been missing.”
Program enrollment will begin during the summer, but applicants can fill out a general interest form now at hcc.edu/cleanenergy.
PHOTOS: (Thumbnail) Jayshawn Brown of Springfield, a student in HCC's solar tech training program works on a solar panel installation project at Dean Technical High School. (Above) Students in HCC's solar tech training program works on a solar panel installation project at Dean Technical High School.
