Energy company PSE&G’s collaboration with the state of New Jersey on the Clean Energy Jobs Program has placed more than 2,200 residents in clean energy jobs. The effort aligns with the New Jersey Clean Energy Act and is supported by the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Since its 2021 inception, the Clean Energy Jobs Program has also trained more than 100 minority-owned small business owners in best energy efficiency practices. State officials believe that, by the end of the decade, the Garden State will need more than 40,000 additional energy-efficiency workers to meet the state’s clean energy goals.
Photo Courtesy PSE&G
“The Clean Energy Jobs program has an innovative approach to help close the skills gap and was designed from the beginning to build a clean energy ecosystem that would serve not just PSE&G, but the entire state,” Karen Reif, PSE&G’s vice president of renewables and energy solutions, said in a news release. “We are proud of the progress that has been made to date to create economic opportunities for New Jersey residents.”
The program’s On-the-Job Training Initiative is a 16-week program where graduates are placed in clean energy jobs throughout New Jersey.
More than 40 community partners are working with PSE&G, a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Inc., providing recruitment referrals for the program. The program focuses heavily on accurately reflecting the state’s population, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“The partnership with the PSE&G Clean Energy Jobs Program strikes deep into the heart of both economic and environmental justice,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “It not only showcases the talent and the skill of New Jersey but proves that these talents and skills are found in a workforce that looks like New Jersey.”
Photo Courtesy PSEG
The partnership is a part of PSE&G’s Clean Energy Future initiative, which focuses on funding energy efficiency, smart electric meters, and building energy storage systems. It’s the largest energy efficiency commitment made by any New Jersey entity.
The company is investing more than $150 million in universal electric vehicle (EV) charging systems statewide, including at multi-family residential buildings, government facilities, and easy-to-use public parking lots.
Under the Clean Energy Future — the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the plan’s centerpiece in 2020 — PSE&G will invest $1 billion to help reduce the state’s carbon footprint. The $700-million Energy Cloud and EV initiatives clear the way for investments in advanced technology designed to address future-proofing the state and enhancing economic opportunities for all New Jersey communities.
Photo Courtesy PSE&G
“[The approval] will allow us to bring the benefits of energy efficiency to every customer and give them options to reduce their energy use, save money, and shrink their carbon footprint,” Ralph Izzo, PSEG chairman, president, and CEO, said in a statement in 2020. “New Jersey now has the opportunity to be at the forefront of clean energy policy and be a role model for the nation.”
“This large-scale commitment to energy efficiency is the cornerstone for PSEG to make further progress as a leading provider of sustainable energy,” he continued.
