There’s a future in clean energy. Idaho LAUNCH can give students the start they need
Ryan McGoldrick
Idaho Statesman
Sun, December 17, 2023
Despite Idaho’s overall growth statewide, young people continue to leave Idaho due to a lack of affordability and job opportunity. A University of Idaho study found that in 2021 alone, 17,000 people between the ages of 21 and 30 moved away from Idaho.
At the same time, we have a booming clean energy industry that desperately needs a trained workforce. Electricians, solar installers, energy efficiency auditors, and more are in short supply in Idaho. If we want to keep our young people and benefit from clean energy opportunities, we need to invest immediately in workforce development.
The opening of the Idaho LAUNCH program represents commitment to our youth’s potential. This program seeks to fill in the funding gaps that high school seniors may face, in order to help them achieve higher education and skills training that will prepare them for fulfilling Idaho’s in-demand jobs in the near future. The program will cover 80% of the cost of an in-state program up to $8,000, empowering students to build their lives here in-state.
This program also creates opportunities for Idaho to build a sustainable future by investing in in-state clean energy solutions. Idaho LAUNCH can help fund essential workforce training programs for Idaho’s rapidly growing clean energy economy and infuse the industry with educated local talent. When we have a local workforce, it means that we not only give our communities access to jobs in a economically-lucrative industry, but we keep dollars in-state: employees pay taxes here, patronize local businesses, and help the local economy thrive.
In Idaho, we don’t depend heavily on fossil fuel resources for our electricity. Idaho doesn’t have significant oil reserves or petroleum refineries, and there are few coal reserves and no coal production within the state. What we do have is an abundance of clean and renewable energy resources. When we think about building out our local economy, expanding our clean energy industry must be considered a priority.
Clean energy projects have significant benefits to rural communities in particular. They provide new revenue sources to rural areas, through an increased tax base that funds local infrastructure improvements while lessening the tax burden on community members. Generating reliable and cheap energy means that it doesn’t need to be imported, giving communities the ability to adapt projects to their local needs and potentials.
With Congress passing three major infrastructure investments — the CHIPS and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — there are many more funding resources for these kinds of projects. Grants include funding towards our energy grid, broadband, electric school buses, energy efficiency in schools, tree canopies in towns and cities, energy efficiency rebates, and workforce training. The latest opportunity being the Idaho Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, Idaho Launch could work hand in hand with the funding provided by these critical investments for workforce training.
The IRA in particular is projected to greatly benefit the energy grid, investing millions of dollars into the clean energy industry. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, Idaho can create up to nearly 7,500 jobs and reduce joblessness in-state by almost 30% by 2030 thanks to the demand for employees to leverage this funding. If we want to reach these goals and realize the benefits to our economy and community, we need to invest in our workforce now. Idaho LAUNCH is helping to make that happen.
It’s no secret that Idaho students are interested in entering clean energy work opportunities. There are 60 energy-related degrees among 10 Idaho colleges. As Idaho sees significant growth in occupations with the energy industry, job security will only grow stronger. We have the industry and we have the workforce — all we need now is to bring the two together with more incentives and openings for Idaho students. Idaho LAUNCH is the jumping-off point we need to create a skilled workforce in an industry that boasts jobs and economic stability, and elevate Idaho’s sustainable energy.
Sun, December 17, 2023
Despite Idaho’s overall growth statewide, young people continue to leave Idaho due to a lack of affordability and job opportunity. A University of Idaho study found that in 2021 alone, 17,000 people between the ages of 21 and 30 moved away from Idaho.
At the same time, we have a booming clean energy industry that desperately needs a trained workforce. Electricians, solar installers, energy efficiency auditors, and more are in short supply in Idaho. If we want to keep our young people and benefit from clean energy opportunities, we need to invest immediately in workforce development.
The opening of the Idaho LAUNCH program represents commitment to our youth’s potential. This program seeks to fill in the funding gaps that high school seniors may face, in order to help them achieve higher education and skills training that will prepare them for fulfilling Idaho’s in-demand jobs in the near future. The program will cover 80% of the cost of an in-state program up to $8,000, empowering students to build their lives here in-state.
This program also creates opportunities for Idaho to build a sustainable future by investing in in-state clean energy solutions. Idaho LAUNCH can help fund essential workforce training programs for Idaho’s rapidly growing clean energy economy and infuse the industry with educated local talent. When we have a local workforce, it means that we not only give our communities access to jobs in a economically-lucrative industry, but we keep dollars in-state: employees pay taxes here, patronize local businesses, and help the local economy thrive.
In Idaho, we don’t depend heavily on fossil fuel resources for our electricity. Idaho doesn’t have significant oil reserves or petroleum refineries, and there are few coal reserves and no coal production within the state. What we do have is an abundance of clean and renewable energy resources. When we think about building out our local economy, expanding our clean energy industry must be considered a priority.
Clean energy projects have significant benefits to rural communities in particular. They provide new revenue sources to rural areas, through an increased tax base that funds local infrastructure improvements while lessening the tax burden on community members. Generating reliable and cheap energy means that it doesn’t need to be imported, giving communities the ability to adapt projects to their local needs and potentials.
With Congress passing three major infrastructure investments — the CHIPS and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — there are many more funding resources for these kinds of projects. Grants include funding towards our energy grid, broadband, electric school buses, energy efficiency in schools, tree canopies in towns and cities, energy efficiency rebates, and workforce training. The latest opportunity being the Idaho Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, Idaho Launch could work hand in hand with the funding provided by these critical investments for workforce training.
The IRA in particular is projected to greatly benefit the energy grid, investing millions of dollars into the clean energy industry. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, Idaho can create up to nearly 7,500 jobs and reduce joblessness in-state by almost 30% by 2030 thanks to the demand for employees to leverage this funding. If we want to reach these goals and realize the benefits to our economy and community, we need to invest in our workforce now. Idaho LAUNCH is helping to make that happen.
It’s no secret that Idaho students are interested in entering clean energy work opportunities. There are 60 energy-related degrees among 10 Idaho colleges. As Idaho sees significant growth in occupations with the energy industry, job security will only grow stronger. We have the industry and we have the workforce — all we need now is to bring the two together with more incentives and openings for Idaho students. Idaho LAUNCH is the jumping-off point we need to create a skilled workforce in an industry that boasts jobs and economic stability, and elevate Idaho’s sustainable energy.
Ryan McGoldrick is the Program Director at Conservation Voters for Idaho, where he supports the organization’s clean energy, public lands, and civic engagement programs.
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