In Chicago’s south side, Olive-Harvey College has launched a new program where students learn to work on Rivian electric pickup trucks and SUVs.
In Danville, Illinois, about 150 miles south, Danville Area Community College teaches students how to troubleshoot large wind turbines, focusing on climbing and safety.
In Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College offers courses on wiring and repairing solar panel installations.
In Boston, Roxbury Community College’s Center for Smart Building Technology trains students on fortifying homes and buildings against extreme temperatures. Their emphasis is on modernizing heating and air conditioning systems to reduce their impact on climate change.
These examples illustrate how community colleges across the country are preparing students for the growing number of jobs in climate solutions.
Professor talks to the students (Via Mark Osborn/Getty Images)
These include roles in electrification, wind and solar energy, energy efficiency, weatherization, and conservation of water and farmland.
Many students, like Kyle Johnson, are motivated by climate change. Johnson, formerly focused on gasoline-fueled cars, enrolled at Olive-Harvey to stay relevant in the evolving automotive industry, particularly with electric vehicles.
The increasing urgency to address climate change has also shifted the job market. Legislation such as the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is further boosting investment in these sectors, ensuring a growing number of job opportunities. The demand for millions of clean energy workers to meet ambitious emissions reduction goals set by governments and businesses is driving faster growth in these fields compared to employment in the U.S.
