Clean Energy Workforce Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8517

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-05-18T18:01:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 8517 - Clean Energy Workforce Act

Purpose

The bill aims to create and expand career and technical education (CTE) programs of study (structured sequences of courses preparing students for careers) and facilities focused on clean and renewable energy fields, including energy efficiency and climate change mitigation or adaptation. It seeks to prepare students for emerging jobs through grants administered by the Secretary of Energy.

Key Provisions

• Clean Energy Curriculum Development Grants (Sec. 2):
• Competitive grants to eligible partnerships (local school districts or similar agencies + postsecondary institutions + community representatives like businesses, industry experts, and labor groups).
• Funds development/expansion of replicable CTE programs for "covered fields" (clean/renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change efforts).
• Applications must detail partnership roles, program structure (secondary and postsecondary levels), accessibility for diverse students (e.g., low-income, urban/rural), labor market needs, hands-on learning, and labor consultations.
• Priority for programs using online/innovative delivery and targeting low-performing students or special populations (e.g., those in non-traditional fields like women in certain trades).
• Uses: Build/expand programs and share them with other schools.

• Renewable Energy Facilities Grants (Sec. 3):
• Competitive grants to eligible entities (school districts, CTE schools, postsecondary institutions, or consortia).
• Funds energy-efficient CTE facilities using renewable practices.
• Uses: Evaluate facility sustainability, plan improvements with stakeholders, build/upgrade facilities, buy educational equipment (e.g., energy-efficient machinery), and share best practices.

• Peer Review (Sec. 4): Secretary of Energy uses a committee of CTE educators/administrators and renewable energy business experts to review applications.

• Definitions (Sec. 5): Draws terms like "program of study" from the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (a federal law funding CTE).

• Funding (Sec. 6): Authorizes $100 million for the Secretary of Energy.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces new grant programs not previously authorized, building on (but not amending) the Perkins Act by using its definitions and eligibility standards.
• No direct alterations to existing laws; adds targeted funding for clean energy CTE.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Secretary of Energy leads implementation (consulting Secretary of Education); requires peer review and grant management, potentially increasing administrative workload at the Department of Energy.
• Citizens: Provides training for high-demand clean energy jobs, benefiting students (especially underserved groups) with better employment prospects; promotes energy-efficient schools.
• International Relations: None directly addressed.

Main Stakeholders

• Educational Institutions: Local school districts, CTE schools, postsecondary colleges (recipients of grants).
• Students: Particularly economically disadvantaged, low-performing, rural/urban, and special populations entering non-traditional fields.
• Industry and Labor: Clean/renewable energy businesses, labor organizations (involved in partnerships and consultations).
• Communities: Served by programs, including through facility upgrades and job preparation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Standard competitive grant structure with clear eligibility and uses; relies on Congress's spending power under the Constitution.
• Constitutional: Uncontroversial federal education funding via grants to states/local entities.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (diverse House members); advances green workforce development without mandates, focusing on voluntary, replicable programs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

Cosponsors (23)

Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2026-04-27: Introduced in House
• 2026-04-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Clean Energy Workforce Act — issued 2026-04-27 — PDF (9 pages)