Gov. Maura Healey of Massachusetts recently participated in a discussion with Boston Globe climate reporter Sabrina Shankman at the Globe Summit. The governor emphasized the need for collaboration across government, regions, and private sectors to combat the climate crisis. Healey highlighted the importance of building a workforce to meet the state’s ambitious climate goals, starting with educational initiatives that expose high school students to careers in the energy sector.
Healey mentioned programs that target low-income students and support apprenticeship programs to ensure a diverse and skilled workforce. She emphasized the need to remove barriers for community college attendance and improve vocational training to meet the demands of the energy economy. Healey views the response to climate change as a competition, stating that whoever figures out the workforce component first will win.
As a member state of the US Climate Alliance, Healey aims to grow a million apprenticeships by 2035 and lead by example in scaling programs through the alliance. She also addressed concerns about transitioning away from the fossil fuel industry by emphasizing the importance of transferring skills to renewable industries.
Healey highlighted the presence of union training programs in Massachusetts and expressed optimism about the future of clean energy jobs. She concluded the discussion by expressing interest in being involved in installing renewable energy infrastructure underwater, emphasizing the wide range of job opportunities in the clean energy sector.
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