Healey-Driscoll Administration Swears in Members of Fossil Fuel Workforce Commission

Healey-Driscoll Administration Swears in Members of Fossil Fuel Workforce Commission  

2024 Climate Law established special commission to develop a report on the impacts of the clean energy transition on workers employed in fossil fuel industries  

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today swore in members of a special commission to study the impacts on the fossil fuel workforce, which was established by the 2024 Climate Law. The Commission on Fossil Fuel Workforce will measure and monitor the impacts on fossil fuel workers and industries and examine the ways to increase access to employment, training, and workforce opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields, and submit a report to the Legislature at the end of the year.  

“People work hard every day to ensure we have a safe and reliable source of energy to heat and power our homes and businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We already have underway efforts to ensure the necessary skills training and job opportunities are available to workers, such as in geothermal energy. This Commission will help us develop a coordinated roadmap for this work with everyone impacted shaping the recommendations.”    

“As we work towards our climate goals, we also need to make sure that both current and future workers have access to the skill development and job training they need to fully participate in our clean energy workforce,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “This Commission will allow our Administration to work collaboratively with labor, employers, training partners, and all stakeholders to ensure workers have the support they need to successfully transition to this growing industry.”    

The Fossil Fuel Worker Transition Commission will be coordinated jointly by the Office of Energy Transformation (OET) and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. OET was established in 2024 to address the gas-to-electric infrastructure transition and ensure a just transition for workers and businesses.  

Appointees:  

Melissa Lavinson, co-chair 

Executive Director, Office of Energy Transformation  

Josh Cutler, co-chair 

Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development 

Sarah Wilkinson 

Commissioner of Division of Occupational Licensure and Office of Public Safety, Executive Office of Economic Development  

María Belén Power 

Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity  

Jennifer Applebaum 

Managing Director of Workforce Development at MassCEC  

Nikki Bruno 

Vice President, Clean Technologies at Eversource Energy  

Meghan Leahy 

Regional Vice President at Cogentrix Energy, LLC  

Kristen Gowin 

Executive Manager at National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston  

Abel Vargas 

President at Valley Home Insulation  

Amy McGuire 

Senior Director, Market Development at Highland Electric Fleets  

Lawrence Lessard 

Director at Achieve Renewable Energy, LLC  

Mark Melnick 

Director, Economic & Public Policy Research at UMass Donahue Institute  

John Cook 

President at Springfield Technical Community College  

Steve Finnigan 

Sub District Director at United Steelworkers (USW)  

Daniel Leary 

President of Local 369 at Utility Workers Union-America (UWUA)  

David Keating 

International Representative at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)  

Harry Brett 

International Representative at United Association  

Michael Vartabedian 

Assistant Directing Business Representative at International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers  

Frank Callahan 

President, Massachusetts Building Trades Unit (MBTU)  

Greandoll Oliva 

Youth Leader in Chelsea and Community Organizer with GreenRoots  

Ana Sofia 

Senior Program Director at La Colaborativa