BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration swore in members of a special commission to study the impacts on the fossil fuel workforce, which was established by the 2024 Climate Law.
The Commission on Fossil Fuel Workforce will measure and monitor the impacts on fossil fuel workers and industries and examine the ways to increase access to employment, training, and workforce opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields, and submit a report to the Legislature at the end of the year.
“People work hard every day to ensure we have a safe and reliable source of energy to heat and power our homes and businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We already have underway efforts to ensure the necessary skills training and job opportunities are available to workers, such as in geothermal energy. This Commission will help us develop a coordinated roadmap for this work with everyone impacted shaping the recommendations.”
“As we work towards our climate goals, we also need to make sure that both current and future workers have access to the skill development and job training they need to fully participate in our clean energy workforce,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “This Commission will allow our Administration to work collaboratively with labor, employers, training partners, and all stakeholders to ensure workers have the support they need to successfully transition to this growing industry.”
The Fossil Fuel Worker Transition Commission will be coordinated jointly by the Office of Energy Transformation (OET) and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. OET was established in 2024 to address the gas-to-electric infrastructure transition and ensure a just transition for workers and businesses.
Appointees:
Melissa Lavinson, co-chair
Executive Director, Office of Energy Transformation
Josh Cutler, co-chair
Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development
Sarah Wilkinson
Commissioner of Division of Occupational Licensure and Office of Public Safety, Executive Office of Economic Development
María Belén Power
Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity
Jennifer Applebaum
Managing Director of Workforce Development at MassCEC
Nikki Bruno
Vice President, Clean Technologies at Eversource Energy
Meghan Leahy
Regional Vice President at Cogentrix Energy, LLC
Kristen Gowin
Executive Manager at National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston
Abel Vargas
President at Valley Home Insulation
Amy McGuire
Senior Director, Market Development at Highland Electric Fleets
Lawrence Lessard
Director at Achieve Renewable Energy, LLC
Mark Melnick
Director, Economic & Public Policy Research at UMass Donahue Institute
John Cook
President at Springfield Technical Community College
Steve Finnigan
Sub District Director at United Steelworkers (USW)
Daniel Leary
President of Local 369 at Utility Workers Union-America (UWUA)
David Keating
International Representative at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Harry Brett
International Representative at United Association
Michael Vartabedian
Assistant Directing Business Representative at International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Frank Callahan
President, Massachusetts Building Trades Unit (MBTU)
Greandoll Oliva
Youth Leader in Chelsea and Community Organizer with GreenRoots
Ana Sofia
Senior Program Director at La Colaborativa
“Thousands of highly-skilled fossil fuel workers in Massachusetts work day in and day out to heat and power our homes, offices, schools, and hospitals,” said Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “They deserve a thoughtful and collaborative approach to the issues around the energy transition. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is committed to finding the right solutions in our shared environment, and we look forward to this Commission’s focus on our critical fossil fuel workers.”
