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Energy Workforce Development Panel Discussion

• Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Upcoming Meeting to Explore Energy Workforce Development

Held virtually (on Zoom) as part of the Ithaca 2030 District Quarterly Partners Meeting; this panel will be open to the public.

Building a clean energy workforce is critical to drive the New York’s transition to a low-carbon, reliable energy system, at the same time powering economic growth, creating millions of high-quality jobs, and fostering energy independence. It ensures a sustainable future by meeting the rising demand for renewable infrastructure—solar, wind, and storage—while offering equitable, well-paying career paths.

Clean energy jobs are expanding at twice the rate of overall U.S. employment, and they offer pathways to the middle class with competitive salaries.

Focused training initiatives create opportunities for diverse, underserved, and marginalized communities to access stable, family-sustaining, and often unionized jobs.

We have a stellar panel for this session. Members include Aloja Airewele,,Energy Warriors Program Leader at CCE Tompkins County; Melissa Suchodolski, President of USC Builds; and Christopher R. Sponn, Executive Director, Tompkins County Workforce Development.

Dawn Montanye, environmental team leader at CCE Tompkins, will moderate the panel. The panelists will address the following questions:

• How is your organization contributing to the creation of a regional clean energy work force?
• What’s worked well and what’s not worked so well?
• How are you collaborating with each other and with other efforts in the community?
• What do you see as the main challenges to the success of these efforts?
• What new and innovative projects are in the works?

Please contact dm773@cornell.edu or pbardaglio@gmail.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.

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CCE Tompkins is a member of the Ithaca 2030 District, a private/public partnership working to reduce building energy consumption, water usage, and transportation emissions 50% by 2030. By establishing the economic case for these reductions, we help property owners build value, reduce operating costs, and create a healthier and more resilient community.

Location

This event is online

Last updated March 13, 2026