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Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Maine ramps up training to meet ambitious heat pump goals
Advertisement Six years ago, Gov. Janet Mills traveled to the college to sign a bill aimed at The state, now a national leader for Advertisement So far, rural counties have seen some of the fastest rates of clean energy worker growth, according to As part of this push, the community college launched a high-tech heat pump training lab in 2021 and has trained over 300 students. The initiative is one of many clean energy programs the school offers as part of a broader, state-supported effort to meet Maine's goal of reaching 30,000 clean energy jobs by 2030. Efficiency Maine, a quasi-governmental agency that oversees the state's energy efficiency programs, has invested more than $400,000 in installation and weatherization training programs at KVCC and supports 29 similar programs at other institutions each year. Another key piece of state support comes through the Governor's Energy Office's Clean Energy Partnership, which has awarded nearly $5 million in grants for clean energy training and apprenticeship programs across the state since 2022 and has seen over 3,500 participants. Businesses have also developed their own on-the-job training programs to help meet demand. But the state still faces a daunting challenge: It must employ more than 14,000 new workers to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs by the end of the decade. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of workers in the field grew by less than a thousand. While the state says it remains dedicated to this goal, some in the industry worry federal funding cuts and tariffs could create challenges for the workforce development pipeline. Advertisement Efforts underway in many corners of Maine Heat pumps have emerged as a pillar of Maine's clean energy strategy: The units can reduce carbon dioxide emissions between 38% and 53% compared to a gas furnace, according to a , and have been touted as a way to reduce energy costs. Rural areas have historically spent more on energy bills and participated less in residential energy and efficiency financing and rebate programs to lower costs, The demand for cleaner energy has grown not only in response to the state's climate goals, but also as Maine's electricity costs rise. A A Maine Monitor analysis of 2023 U.S. Department of Energy and Bureau of Labor Statistics data prepared for E2 shows that two-thirds of the state's clean energy jobs were in the energy efficiency sector, while about a fifth of jobs were in renewables. Workforce development has become a priority for the state as the clean energy industry grows, said Tagwongo Obomsawin, the program manager for the state's Clean Energy Partnership, noting that it can provide good paying jobs for Mainers and reduce energy costs. 'Employers are definitely a really important part of the picture, but we don't want to leave out anyone,' Obomsawin said. 'We recognize that training providers, academia, state government, organized labor and industry all have a role to play in making sure that we have a robust system that supports people in finding job opportunities, getting access to training and localizing the benefits of the energy transition.' Advertisement Heat pump training is just one of several clean energy programs offered through the Maine Community College System, which includes KVCC. The system works with industry and state leaders to grow the workforce. The network of schools also trains students in electric vehicle maintenance, fiber optics, aquaculture and more. Dan Belyea, the system's chief workforce development officer, said short-term training and scholarship funding are centered on needs that arise in the industry, which the schools gauge by looking at labor market data and talking to employers. Programs that are highest in demand tend to include electrical and heat pump training, Belyea said. In 2022, KVCC hoped to use a nearly $250,000 grant from the Clean Energy Partnership to offer programs on electric vehicles and NABCEP solar photovoltaic installation. But trouble finding instructors and low interest among students made it difficult to launch. Instead, KVCC doubled down on energy efficiency. It launched a building science program with the funding last fall, which had five students, two of whom were able to complete the certification. Other clean energy workforce initiatives have popped up across the state. Some employers run their own heat pump or solar installation training labs, and several adult education programs and nonprofits also offer classes designed to help people move into the industry. passivhausMAINE, a Freeport-based organization, received $180,000 in Clean Energy Partnership money in 2022 to host training programs on the state's energy code. The company ran 29 trainings across the state, from Portland to Presque Isle. Advertisement Naomi Beal, executive director of passivhausMAINE, noted that getting enough students to attend the training was easier in areas like Portland, but trickier in more rural areas. 'I always feel like it's very important to consider when going into Greenfield or Machiasport or wherever that there are just not that many people.… So if we get five people showing up, that's probably statistically way more interest than (a larger number of attendees) down in Portland,' Beal said. 'We just try to be patient and persistent with the smaller towns and the smaller attendance.' A need for more collaboration In Freeport, Scott Libby, the owner of Royal River Heat Pumps, walked through his training center as he explained that all his workers go through heat pump training that starts with the basics, regardless of experience, to ensure each worker is equipped to handle the job. 'A lot of these heat pumps have 12-year warranties,' Libby said. 'That's 4,380 days. The most important day is Day 1. It needs to be installed properly.' Libby, who has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy on workforce development and sits on a new energy efficiency workforce subcommittee being developed by the Governor's Energy Office, said he's aware of a number of different workforce development initiatives but that it's difficult to comprehend how they all work together. He said some forms of programming aren't sufficient for what's actually needed in the field: Students who sit through a six-week or six-month program that teaches the basics of how heat pumps work may come out with little to no hands-on experience with a power tool or climbing a ladder. Advertisement Libby emphasized the need for more collaboration between different workforce development efforts and a more systematic approach, with quality checks in place. He suggested putting more thought into designing industrial arts and home economics programs in middle and high schools to introduce students to different career pathways early on. He also said more stringent licensing requirements could help with the quality of workers moving into the field. As it stands, there is no specific licensing required to install heat pumps in Maine, though workers need an Environmental Protection Agency Section 608 license to deal with the refrigerant used inside the unit and an electrical license to complete the wiring. He acknowledged that new regulation could 'cripple' workforce development efforts but said the move is imperative to control the level of training workers receive and make sure everyone is qualified to install heat pumps. There are hundreds of contractors listed as qualified heat pump installers on Efficiency Maine's website, a list he said in his opinion should be much shorter. Uncertainties lie ahead At KVCC's heat pump lab, Whittemore gestured at eight heat pumps mounted on prop walls used for training, listing the types of new units he hopes to get soon – ideally through donations from companies who have given units in the past. Regulatory 'Most of the procedures with the new refrigerants are the same, it's just that we can't put this new refrigerant in these existing heat pumps,' he said. 'So I've got to get eight new heat pumps.' The broader challenge he sees for the industry is tariffs, which he fears could lead to higher equipment prices and lower demand. This, in turn, could mean a lower need for workers. 'I think that's going to slow this down,' he said. Maine has two years to reach its goal of installing 275,000 heat pumps and five years to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs. But uncertainties in building Maine's workforce lie ahead. The Clean Energy Partnership Project, which has funded many of the state's clean energy workforce development programs, typically announces new grants in the summer, but the Governor's Energy Office stopped short of committing to another round of funding this year. 'We can't predict the future, but the existing programs that we have will continue on for at least another couple of years,' Obomsawin said. She said a partnership the Energy Office has with the Department of Labor to provide career navigation services will continue into 2026, as will workforce development programs that received funding and are already operational. But she cautioned that it is still too early to know what impact policy changes at the federal level will have on the clean energy sector. Efficiency Maine said that the state is still on track to achieve its heat pump goals – at least for now. Executive Director Michael Stoddard said that the heat pump rebate program has funding from the Electric Utility Conservation Program and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for at least the next three years. However, some smaller initiatives, such as a revolving loan to help Mainers buy new heat pump systems, face uncertainty as the federal grants funding the project are in flux. Libby, of Royal River Heat Pumps, has 40 years of HVAC industry experience and said funding uncertainty will make it a challenge to reach the state's heat pump goal. 'I think it's definitely going to be harder,' Libby said. 'I mean, I'm not ready to give up on it yet. I don't think anybody is ready to give up on it.' Correction (May 23, 10:55 a.m.): This story has been updated to reflect that the name of the Freeport-based organization that received Clean Energy Partnership money is passivhausMAINE, not PassivHaus.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine is training an army of HVAC pros to meet its heat pump goals
Powering Rural Futures: Clean energy is creating new jobs in rural America, generating opportunities for people who install solar panels, build wind turbines, weatherize homes, and more. This five-part series from the Rural News Network explores how industry, state governments, and education systems are training this growing sputtered drone of a vacuum pump filled the former milking barn that now houses Kennebec Valley Community College's heat pump lab. Instructor Dave Whittemore, who held the yellow vacuum in one hand and displayed an app tracking atmospheric pressure on his phone in the other, explained in a raised voice how to do an 'evacuation,' ridding the heat pump of air and moisture to avoid malfunctions down the road. 'The longevity of the equipment is important,' said Whittemore, who teaches students how to install the increasingly popular electric heating and cooling units. 'If it's not done right, then it's going to fail prematurely. And that's the biggest reason that I personally try to keep up with industry best standards and I pass that on to my students.' Six years ago, Gov. Janet Mills traveled to the college to sign a bill aimed at transforming Maine's market for heat pumps, an environmentally friendly alternative to oil furnaces and gas boilers, and set a goal of installing 100,000 units by 2025. The state, now a national leader for heat pump adoption, met that goal two years ahead of schedule, and Mills once again traveled to the rural Somerset County campus to announce a new target: another 175,000 heat pumps by 2027. Maine needs skilled workers to reach this goal, demanding training initiatives from all corners of the state to build HVAC, refrigerant, and electrical knowledge in the clean energy workforce. Without a strong pipeline, the state risks delays in reaching its heat pump target, putting its climate goals at risk. So far, rural counties have seen some of the fastest rates of clean energy worker growth, according to state data. In Somerset County, where KVCC is located, the number of clean energy workers has grown by 44% since 2020. As part of this push, the community college launched a high-tech heat pump training lab in 2021 and has trained over 300 students. The initiative is one of many clean energy programs the school offers as part of a broader, state-supported effort to meet Maine's goal of reaching 30,000 clean energy jobs by 2030. Efficiency Maine, a quasi-governmental agency that oversees the state's energy efficiency programs, has invested more than $400,000 in installation and weatherization training programs at KVCC and supports 29 similar programs at other institutions each year. Another key piece of state support comes through the Governor's Energy Office's Clean Energy Partnership, which has awarded nearly $5 million in grants for clean energy training and apprenticeship programs across the state since 2022 and has seen over 3,500 participants. Businesses have also developed their own on-the-job training programs to help meet demand. But the state still faces a daunting challenge: It must employ more than 14,000 new workers to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs by the end of the decade. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of workers in the field grew by less than a thousand. While the state says it remains dedicated to this goal, some in the industry worry federal funding cuts and tariffs could create challenges for the workforce development pipeline. Heat pumps have emerged as a pillar of Maine's clean energy strategy: The units can reduce carbon dioxide emissions between 38% and 53% compared to a gas furnace, according to a 2022 study in the academic journal Energy Policy, and have been touted as a way to reduce energy costs. Rural areas have historically spent more on energy bills and participated less in residential energy and efficiency financing and rebate programs to lower costs, according to a state report from 2023. To help rural Mainers overcome geographic barriers in accessing cost-lowering energy initiatives, the state must bolster its rural workforce, according to a 2018 study the Island Institute produced in partnership with the Governor's Energy Office. The demand for cleaner energy has grown not only in response to the state's climate goals, but also as Maine's electricity costs rise. A Maine Monitor analysis showed that electricity costs increased at the third-highest rate in the U.S. between 2014 and 2024. A Maine Monitor analysis of 2023 U.S. Department of Energy and Bureau of Labor Statistics data prepared for E2 shows that two-thirds of the state's clean energy jobs were in the energy-efficiency sector, while about a fifth of jobs were in renewables. Workforce development has become a priority for the state as the clean energy industry grows, said Tagwongo Obomsawin, the program manager for the state's Clean Energy Partnership, noting that it can provide good paying jobs for Mainers and reduce energy costs. 'Employers are definitely a really important part of the picture, but we don't want to leave out anyone,' Obomsawin said. 'We recognize that training providers, academia, state government, organized labor, and industry all have a role to play in making sure that we have a robust system that supports people in finding job opportunities, getting access to training, and localizing the benefits of the energy transition.' Heat pump training is just one of several clean energy programs offered through the Maine Community College System, which includes KVCC. The system works with industry and state leaders to grow the workforce. The network of schools also trains students in electric vehicle maintenance, fiber optics, aquaculture, and more. Dan Belyea, the system's chief workforce development officer, said short-term training and scholarship funding are centered on needs that arise in the industry, which the schools gauge by looking at labor market data and talking to employers. Programs that are highest in demand tend to include electrical and heat pump training, Belyea said. In 2022, KVCC hoped to use a nearly $250,000 grant from the Clean Energy Partnership to offer programs on electric vehicles and NABCEP solar photovoltaic installation. But trouble finding instructors and low interest among students made it difficult to launch. Instead, KVCC doubled down on energy efficiency. It launched a building science program with the funding last fall, which had five students, two of whom were able to complete the certification. Other clean energy workforce initiatives have popped up across the state. Some employers run their own heat pump or solar installation training labs, and several adult education programs and nonprofits also offer classes designed to help people move into the industry. PassivHaus, a Freeport-based organization, received $180,000 in Clean Energy Partnership money in 2022 to host training programs on the state's energy code. The company ran 29 trainings across the state, from Portland to Presque Isle. Naomi Beal, executive director of PassivHaus, noted that getting enough students to attend the training was easier in areas like Portland but trickier in more rural areas. 'I always feel like it's very important to consider when going into Greenfield or Machiasport or wherever that there are just not that many people. … So if we get five people showing up, that's probably statistically way more interest than [a larger number of attendees] down in Portland,' Beal said. 'We just try to be patient and persistent with the smaller towns and the smaller attendance.' In Freeport, Scott Libby, the owner of Royal River Heat Pumps, walked through his training center as he explained that all his workers go through heat pump training that starts with the basics, regardless of experience, to ensure each worker is equipped to handle the job. 'A lot of these heat pumps have 12-year warranties,' Libby said. 'That's 4,380 days. The most important day is Day 1. It needs to be installed properly.' Libby, who has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy on workforce development and sits on a new energy-efficiency workforce subcommittee being developed by the Governor's Energy Office, said he's aware of a number of different workforce development initiatives but that it's difficult to comprehend how they all work together. He said some forms of programming aren't sufficient for what's actually needed in the field: Students who sit through a six-week or six-month program that teaches the basics of how heat pumps work may come out with little to no hands-on experience with a power tool or climbing a ladder. Libby emphasized the need for more collaboration between different workforce development efforts and a more systematic approach, with quality checks in place. He suggested putting more thought into designing industrial arts and home economics programs in middle and high schools to introduce students to different career pathways early on. He also said more stringent licensing requirements could help with the quality of workers moving into the field. As it stands, there is no specific licensing required to install heat pumps in Maine, though workers need an Environmental Protection Agency Section 608 license to deal with the refrigerant used inside the unit, and an electrical license to complete the wiring. He acknowledged that new regulation could 'cripple' workforce development efforts but said the move is imperative to control the level of training workers receive and make sure everyone is qualified to install heat pumps. There are hundreds of contractors listed as qualified heat pump installers on Efficiency Maine's website, a list he said in his opinion should be much shorter. At KVCC's heat pump lab, Whittemore gestured at eight heat pumps mounted on prop walls used for training, listing the types of new units he hopes to get soon — ideally through donations from companies who have given units in the past. Regulatory changes to refrigerants that went into effect this year mean the school needs to replace the heat pumps it uses to train students. 'Most of the procedures with the new refrigerants are the same. It's just that we can't put this new refrigerant in these existing heat pumps,' he said. 'So I've got to get eight new heat pumps.' The broader challenge he sees for the industry is tariffs, which he fears could lead to higher equipment prices and lower demand. This, in turn, could mean a lower need for workers. 'I think that's going to slow this down,' he said. Maine has two years to reach its goal of installing 275,000 heat pumps and five years to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs. But uncertainties in building Maine's workforce lie ahead. The Clean Energy Partnership Project, which has funded many of the state's clean energy workforce development programs, typically announces new grants in the summer, but the Governor's Energy Office stopped short of committing to another round of funding this year. 'We can't predict the future, but the existing programs that we have will continue on for at least another couple of years,' Obomsawin said. She said a partnership the Energy Office has with the Department of Labor to provide career navigation services will continue into 2026, as will workforce development programs that received funding and are already operational. But she cautioned that it is still too early to know what impact policy changes at the federal level will have on the clean energy sector. Efficiency Maine said that the state is still on track to achieve its heat pump goals — at least for now. Executive Director Michael Stoddard said that the heat pump rebate program has funding from the Electric Utility Conservation Program and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for at least the next three years. However, some smaller initiatives, such as a revolving loan to help Mainers buy new heat pump systems, face uncertainty as the federal grants funding the project are in flux. Libby, of Royal River Heat Pumps, has 40 years of HVAC industry experience and said funding uncertainty will make it a challenge to reach the state's heat pump goal. 'I think it's definitely going to be harder,' Libby said. 'I mean, I'm not ready to give up on it yet. I don't think anybody is ready to give up on it.' This reporting is part of a collaboration between the Institute for Nonprofit News' Rural News Network and Canary Media, South Dakota News Watch, Cardinal News, The Mendocino Voice, and The Maine Monitor. Support from Ascendium Education Group made the project possible.
Business Wire
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Avangrid Foundation and Central Maine Power join Kennebec Valley Community College to Celebrate Lineworker Program Milestone
FAIRFIELD, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading energy company Avangrid Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, and Central Maine Power (CMP) joined Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their Electrical Lineworker Technology Program. KVCC unveiled their new Derrick Digger Truck, a state-of-the-art addition to the program's training resources. The Avangrid Foundation provided $100,000 for the new vehicle that will provide essential training opportunities. Digger trucks are used by lineworkers to set utility poles and perform earthwork. KVCC's Electrical Lineworker Technology Program, the only such program in Maine, prepares students with the necessary skills in maintaining and advancing the state's energy grid. 'I'm incredibly proud of the Avangrid Foundation's meaningful work supporting education and fostering thriving communities across the country,' said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. 'Investing in electrical lineworker education at Kennebec Valley Community College is crucial for grid resiliency, energy security, and economic growth. Today's celebration underscores Avangrid's commitment to modernizing U.S. grid infrastructure and bolstering our future workforce.' 'The Avangrid Foundation is proud to support Kennebec Valley Community College in providing a top-tier and hands-on education for our nation's future lineworkers. Preparing the next generation of infrastructure workforce with new state-of-the-art resources is essential to maintaining and enhancing grid reliability and resiliency. I applaud KVCC on their commitment to Maine's energy future,' said Pablo Colón, Executive Director of Avangrid Foundation and Director of Corporate Citizenship at Avangrid. 'This investment represents more than just cutting-edge equipment for the Lineworker Program. It's a powerful symbol of our commitment to prepare students for critical roles in Maine's energy future,' said KVCC President Karen Normandin. 'We're deeply grateful to Avangrid Foundation, Central Maine Power, the Foundation for Maine's Community Colleges, and an anonymous donor for their generous support, which ensures our graduates are job-ready and positioned to keep our communities connected.' The Avangrid Foundation and Central Maine Power have a long history of supporting KVCC's Electrical Lineworker Technology program with funding, equipment, and expertise. The Avangrid Foundation contributed to the initial renovation of the Nutter Field House into the classroom space that hosts the program with $250,000 in grants. The Foundation also most recently provided $10,000 in scholarship funds for students enrolled in the Lineworker Technology Program, or students pursuing specialties in the Trades and Technology Department. In 2024, CMP hired multiple lineworker apprentices who were graduates from the KVCC program, continuing a partnership that is now more than six years old. CMP has proudly trained lineworkers in central Maine for generations, offering competitive wages and lifelong careers over the company's 125-year history. Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) is a two-year comprehensive community college in mid-Maine serving students from Somerset, Kennebec, and Knox counties and well beyond. KVCC has two campuses in the heart of Central Maine—our 70-acre Fairfield Campus, which is readily accessible by I-95, and our 600-acre Harold Alfond Campus, just seven miles north. KVCC offers 30 degree programs between these two campuses, ranging from Nursing to Allied Health to Trades and Technology, and credentials in Mental Health, Liberal Studies, Business Administration, Early Childhood Education, Biology, General Studies, and Psychology. In addition to certificate and associate degree programs, KVCC's Workforce Training and Professional Development office provides a wealth of short-term training programs for business, industry, and professional development. KVCC is a collegial environment emphasizing student success and respect for a diverse population of employees, students, and community members. About Avangrid Foundation: The Avangrid Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that funds philanthropic investments that primarily impact communities where Avangrid, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate. Since 2001, the Avangrid Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $42.4 million in partnerships that focus on building sustainable, vital and healthy communities; preserving cultural and artistic heritage; advancing education; and improving people's lives. The Avangrid Foundation is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the United States. For more information, please visit About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $47 billion in assets, and has two primary lines of business: networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates more than 75 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America's best corporate citizens in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit
