High-quality, short-term training paired with industry-recognized credentials can quickly prepare workers to meet the energy sector’s growing needs for skilled IT workers.
Funded by the Department of Labor, the Power IT project is led by the Urban Institute in partnership with Per Scholas, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and Communication Workers of America (CWA). Together, we will provide worker-centered training that aligns with the IT needs of the energy sector.
Power IT will:
- train 600 workers for high-demand IT occupations,
- provide worker rights training to all Power IT participants,
- help employers launch Registered Apprenticeship Programs and create pre-apprenticeship pathways to expand their IT workforce, and
- develop clear IT career pathways within the energy sector.
Urban Institute Project Staff
- Bhavani Arabandi and Deborah Kobes (project co-directors)
- Leslee Haisma (project manager)
- Zach Boren
- John Marotta
- Shruti Nayak
- Lindsey Tyson
Project Partners
Communication Workers of America (CWA): CWA will empower Power IT participants through trainings focused on aspects of quality jobs, worker rights, and labor history in the IT sector.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): As experts in the energy sector, IREC will work to create and promote clear IT career pathways across the industry.
Per Scholas: Leveraging their expansive training, Per Scholas will provide free IT training and pathways into jobs in IT and energy. Per Scholas will offer in-person, hybrid, and remote courses that develop industry-ready graduates for occupations including Desktop Support Technician, Deployment Technician, Infrastructure or Technical Support Engineer, IT Systems Analyst, Network Support Analyst, Network Engineer, Software Associate, Junior Web Developer, Cybersecurity Analyst, and Security Engineer. This training includes industry-recognized credentials such as CompTIA A+, CompTIA CySA+, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, and Google IT Support Professional Certificate.
This webpage was created by the Urban Institute and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the US Department of Labor (DOL). DOL makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.
The total cost of the Power IT project is $5,815,899. $5,000,000 (86 percent) is funded through the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program of the US Department of Labor–Employment and Training Administration. The other $815,899 (14 percent) is funded through nonfederal resources.
This project was previously named the Clean IT Pathways Project. We have rebranded it to highlight our focus on the energy and related sectors.
