The Oregon Department of Energy announced $2 million in workforce development funding to six organizations through the state's Energy Efficiency Technologies Information and Training Fund. The grant program, established by Oregon House Bill 3409 in 2023, seeks to improve home efficiency and resiliency by preparing the workforce to perform upgrades and install energy efficient technologies. The funding will be used to provide education, mentoring, and hands-on training to equip workers with the technical and consumer-facing skills needed to conduct energy audits, upgrade electrical panels, weatherize homes, and install energy efficient appliances. The awardees include community colleges, local non-profit organizations, and tribal-led organizations and will focus training efforts in communities where households currently lack access to functioning and affordable heating and cooling systems. More information about the program can be found here.