New York City is in the middle of a structural shift in how it uses and produces energy. This is not a branding exercise. It is being driven by hard law, clear targets and real money flowing into construction sites, training rooms and hiring pipelines.
At state level, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) requires that New York obtain 70 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and reach 100 percent zero emission electricity by 2040. It also mandates deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and directs at least 35 to 40 percent of clean energy benefits to disadvantaged communities.
In New York City, Local Law 97 of 2019 adds more pressure. Most buildings over 25,000 square feet now face legally enforceable emissions caps, with a requirement to cut emissions 40 percent by 2030 and move toward net zero by 2050. Buildings account for about two thirds of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, so compliance will require a massive wave of retrofits, electrification and ongoing energy management.
Those laws are the foundation for a long term demand in clean energy work across the five boroughs.
How Large Is New York’s Clean Energy Workforce
The numbers are not guesswork. They are tracked annually.
According to the 2024 New York Clean Energy Industry Report from NYSERDA, New York State had about 178,000 clean energy workers at the end of 2023, with 7,700 jobs added between 2022 and 2023. Clean energy job growth more than doubled the rate of overall employment growth in the state.
A separate analysis by E2 for Clean Jobs New York 2024 counts roughly 174,000 clean energy jobs in 2023, again finding that clean energy jobs grew faster than the rest of the state economy and that there are more than twice as many clean energy jobs as fossil fuel jobs in New York. Energy efficiency roles make up the largest share, followed by renewable generation, storage and grid modernization, clean vehicles and clean fuels.
Nationally, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that clean energy jobs grew more than twice as fast as overall U.S. employment in 2023, and that clean energy accounted for over half of all new energy sector jobs that year. New York is one of the states where that trend is most visible.
The bottom line is simple. Clean energy is no longer a niche sector. It is a major employer, and the legal requirements in New York virtually guarantee that demand for skilled workers will continue.
What Types of Jobs Are Being Created
“Clean energy” is a broad label. At street level in New York City, it translates into concrete job families such as:
- Energy efficiency technicians and installers
Workers who upgrade insulation, windows, lighting, controls and building envelopes in multifamily and commercial buildings. Energy efficiency is the single largest clean energy employment sector in New York, with nearly 130,000 workers in 2023. E2 - Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and heat pump specialists
Local Law 97 and CLCPA targets push building owners to move away from oil and gas heating. That means growing demand for technicians who can design, install and maintain efficient electric heating and cooling systems. NYSERDA+1 - Solar and wind technicians
New York has set aggressive deployment targets for solar and offshore wind as part of its clean energy strategy. Solar alone accounted for more than 15,000 jobs statewide in 2023 and wind supported several thousand more. E2+1 - Battery storage and grid modernization roles
As more renewables connect to the grid, the state needs workers skilled in battery systems, advanced controls and grid planning. Storage and grid modernization jobs grew almost 6 percent in 2023 in New York. E2 - Clean vehicles and charging infrastructure
Jobs tied to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure are the fastest growing segment in the state’s clean energy workforce, increasing 16 percent in 2023. E2
On top of these technical roles, there is growing demand for project managers, energy auditors, data analysts, compliance specialists and community outreach staff who can explain new programs to residents and small businesses.
Clean energy jobs often pay above the state average and many are unionized. The DOE’s national employment report notes historic high unionization rates in clean energy sectors, which links decarbonization to stable, middle income careers. The Department of Energy’s Energy.gov
Why New York City Needs Targeted Workforce Development
The policy push is clear. The jobs are real. That does not automatically mean local residents can access them.
Several problems show up repeatedly in research and practice:
- Employers cannot find enough workers with the right mix of technical skills and safety training.
- Training programs do not always match the skills that are in demand on actual projects.
- Residents in disadvantaged communities often lack information about clean energy careers or face barriers such as childcare, transportation and language.
- Smaller contractors struggle to release staff for training while still delivering projects on time.
State agencies have started to address these gaps. NYSERDA has committed about 120 million dollars in workforce funding through 2025 to support clean energy workforce development and training programs. NYSERDA These funds support internships, apprenticeships, on the job training and curriculum development for clean energy roles.
The New York Climate Act’s “New Careers and Fresh Starts” initiative frames workforce as a central pillar. The state reports that clean energy jobs in New York reached a record 178,000 workers by the end of 2023 and stresses the need to expand training opportunities in clean heating, energy efficiency and other clean technology sectors. NYSERDA
In New York City, the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice highlights “green jobs” as part of the city’s economic strategy, tying workforce development to building decarbonization and resilience projects. NYC Government
Even with these efforts, the gap between climate goals and available skilled labor is a recurring concern in policy analysis, including work by Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute and other research groups that track progress under the CLCPA. The ILR School
Equity And Disadvantaged Communities
The CLCPA does not treat equity as an optional add on. It requires that at least 35 percent, and ideally 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy and climate spending flow to disadvantaged communities. Net Zero Compare
In practice, that means workforce development programs are expected to:
- Recruit from neighborhoods with high energy burdens and environmental justice concerns.
- Create training paths for people who have been excluded from traditional construction or technical careers.
- Coordinate with labor unions and community based organizations to reach residents in public housing, rent regulated housing and other vulnerable situations.
The state’s “Growing Economic Opportunities” materials explicitly describe the goal of building a clean energy workforce pipeline through partnerships with businesses, schools, labor organizations and community groups, and assisting employers with recruiting and onboarding new workers. NYSERDA
For New York City, where income inequality and racial disparities are stark, this requirement is not window dressing. If workforce programs do not reach the same communities that are already over exposed to pollution and climate risk, the transition will deepen inequality instead of reducing it.
Training Providers And Community Based Organizations
Workforce development in clean energy is not handled by a single agency or institution. It is an ecosystem.
Examples include:
- State and city agencies that fund and coordinate training aligned with CLCPA and Local Law 97. NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Workforce Development and Training programs are a central piece of this system. NYSERDA
- Technical training providers such as 3Q Innovation, a New York City based nonprofit that specializes in clean energy and energy efficiency training. Public materials describe 3Q Innovation as creating custom workforce education to address “up skilling” gaps for workers and employers, with courses like Energy Audit Essentials and building operations training. NYSERDA+53qinnovation.org+53qinnovation.org
- Community based organizations and housing groups that have long standing relationships in specific neighborhoods. Neighborhoods For A Sustainable Future (N4SF), based in Staten Island, is one example. Its stated mission is to revitalize underserved neighborhoods by creating and preserving affordable housing and by providing homeowner education, assistance and community leadership opportunities. Cause IQ+2Intellispect
Organizations like N4SF can connect clean energy workforce opportunities to real household needs such as housing stability and lower utility costs. They can also help identify residents who are interested in training and link them to providers like 3Q Innovation or to programs listed by NYSERDA and city agencies.
This mix matters. Technical expertise without community trust struggles to recruit and retain participants. Community trust without credible technical training does not lead to stable careers. New York’s policy framework assumes that both sides are necessary.
What Needs To Happen Next
The policy and funding landscape in New York is favorable to clean energy, but that position is not guaranteed. Federal tax credit changes, shifts in national politics and economic slowdowns can all slow project pipelines. Recent reporting already flags concerns that changes in federal policy could drag down clean energy job growth across the United States. Reuters
For New York City, the practical questions are clear:
- Can the region train enough electricians, HVAC technicians, building operators and project managers to meet Local Law 97 timelines.
- Will residents of disadvantaged communities see real access to these jobs rather than watching outside firms bring in workers from elsewhere.
- Can community groups, training providers and employers coordinate so that programs lead to actual placements and career ladders, not only certificates.
Clean energy workforce development in New York City is not theoretical policy language. It is a long term restructuring of who builds, operates and maintains the systems that keep the city running.
If the city and state keep aligning law, funding, training and community partnerships, the result can be a cleaner energy system and a stronger, more inclusive labor market. If they do not, the laws will remain in place on paper while projects stall and residents see more cost than benefit.
That is the real weight behind the phrase “clean energy workforce development in New York City.” It is about skills, jobs and who gets a foothold in the next phase of the city’s economy.