Kane County Government
How Do I

CE 2: Support equitable workforce development and entrepreneur opportunities of climate action in the local economy.

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​CE 2-1 Coordinate, including local unions, to develop and pro​mote job trainin​g​ programs to equip individuals​ with valuable, future-oriented skills that contribute to climate resilience, while also providing pathw​ays to employment, particularly for those in disadvantaged communities.  Programs to include:

  • Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Developing programs that teach skills related to solar energy system construction and the weatherization of buildings to improve energy efficiency.
  • Alternative Building Demolition Techniques: Promoting methods such as building relocation, deconstruction, and salvage instead of traditional demolition. Establishing a job training program specifically for building deconstruction skills, modeled after initiatives like the Better Futures Program
  • Heat Pump Technology Training: Exploring training​ opportunities in retail and with cont​ractors/installers​, focusing on the availability and functionality of heat pump technology for applications like water heaters and clothes dryers.


CE 2-2 Collaborate to establish and promote a Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) workforce training program.​


CE 2-3 Collaborate with the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen and other potential partners identified on the US Department of Energy’s H2Matchmaker to identify opportunities for establishing and supporting new green hydrogen startup businesses within Kane County.


CE 2-4 Collaborate with the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen to establish and promote a Kane County Green Hydrogen workforce education and training program.


CE 2-5 Collaborate with school districts to promote youth development through support of programs like the Future Cities competition​ which challenge students to design projects for sustainability in their community.


CE 2-6 Promote workforce development in partnership with local schools, colleges, and universities create and implement a curriculum for green skills—the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.  Goal: 1,000 "green careers" by 2030


CE 2-7 Explore training opportunities within retail stores, contractors, and installers, surrounding availability and functionality of heat pump water heaters/clothes dryers.


CE 2-8 Engage with local green jobs training providers to coordinate strategic planning and encourage programs to develop local workforce capacity and assess, train, and place local residents to perform energy retrofits, solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, and other green improvements.​


CE 2-9 Collaborate with partners such as school districts, colleges, unions, local non-profit/community organizations, and employers to establish a paid Green Jobs apprenticeship and internship program for youth. Program to facilitate the hiring of program graduates through the promotion and subsidized internship placement with employers within the community. Explore establishing a cost sharing / resource sharing component with the businesses benefiting from internships.  Program to prioritize internship candidates from households with low income and people from under represented populations.