GREENFIELD 一 Greenfield Community College has been recognized by the Alliance for Climate Transition for its work to prepare students for careers in clean energy.
The Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT) is a nonprofit that promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development in the fields of clean energy and climate technology. At its Energy Leadership Gala at the Museum of Science in Boston earlier this month, the nonprofit presented GCC’s Workforce Development team with the 2026 Clean Energy Workforce Development Champion Energy Leadership Award.
“We were delighted to be nominated by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center,” said Kristin Cole, vice president of workforce development at GCC. “They’ve been huge supporters of us building these programs in Franklin County.”
“MassCEC nominated GCC because, as an organization, they consistently demonstrate the kind of collaborative, employer-aligned and equity-centered leadership needed to grow the commonwealth’s clean energy workforce,” MassCEC Managing Director of Workforce Development Jennifer Applebaum said. “GCC is not simply offering training; it is building a durable regional talent pipeline that creates meaningful economic opportunity for western Massachusetts residents while ensuring clean energy employers have the skilled workforce to power an effective transition.”
Cole said the Oct. 8 event in Boston was fun while also providing a great way for GCC’s Workforce Development team to network and learn what other companies, organizations and educators are doing in the field, and how they can improve the programs at GCC and explore new ideas.
In recent years, the college has been working to develop and expand its clean energy and climate-critical programs, which, backed by grant funding from partners like the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, have been available free to residents.
Programs include the Climate Service Corps, a free, 14-week program for young adults ages 18 to 24 that combines paid training, career exploration, and internships in clean energy and environmental fields; Entry-Level HVAC Training, a 19-week program offering hands-on instruction, industry certifications and employer connections; and Weatherization Technician Training, a five-week program developed with Community Action Pioneer Valley that prepares participants to improve the energy efficiency of homes and buildings.
The weatherization program launched over the summer, Cole said. Using the college’s new weatherization labs developed with help from a Community Action grant, the first cohort of 40 students learned how to work on spaces such as attics and crawl spaces, and seal windows and air conditioning units. The students were also matched with local partner companies for paid employment and on-the-job training.
“It went great and we’ll be continuing that program next summer,” Cole said.
Cole said she’s proud of what the college has been able to accomplish by fostering partnerships with local employers to develop training and ensure students are not only prepared with the skills they need to be successful in their careers, but have jobs lined up after graduation. In addition to Community Action, the college also collaborates with the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center.
“I love the collaboration with the clean energy work we’ve been doing,” Cole said. “[Local partner employers] are advisors to us. They come to our classrooms; they engage with our students. … Because of that success, we’re able to develop these programs.”
Cole said that moving forward, GCC is developing electrical training programs, and programs to educate people working in clean energy and climate technology on how to train others to do the work. The college will continue to pursue clean energy workforce development programs as long as there is a need for workers in Franklin County.
“As long as [energy and climate technology] remains in Massachusetts a growing industry, as long as the jobs are there,” Cole said, “we’ll keep growing and developing programs.”
