CASE STUDIES 1 of 2

Massachusetts Contractor "Boot Camp"

Rising to the Challenge of a Workforce Overhaul

Clients: Coalition of Program Administrators comprised of the utilities National Grid, NSTAR, Western Massachusetts Electric, New England Gas, Berkshire Gas, Bay State Gas, Blackstone Gas, Unitil and the municipal aggregator Cape Light Compact
Location: Massachusetts

Challenge/Business Need

Massachusetts utilities are coping with unprecedented 2008-09 legislative mandates to:

• Deliver vastly scaled-up energy efficiency initiatives
  
• Create green jobs with state and federal funds for training
  
• Decrease greenhouse gas emissions

The 2008 statewide policies remake Massachusetts' electricity marketplace, with efficiency now a higher priority. A coalition of leading energy efficiency providers — “Program Administrators” — crafted a three-year plan to deliver services that will ultimately net more than $4 billion in energy savings. To accomplish this extraordinary goal, a workforce overhaul is required.

• In their July 2009 published plan, the Program Administrators “recognize that additional workforce must be trained and deployed to effectively deliver the programs. This is not an insignificant barrier.”
• The Federal Recovery Act, in parallel with multiple state-level initiatives, infuses tens of millions in stimulus dollars for weatherization efforts and requiring additional contractors and crews for implementation.
• Training infrastructure must expand to reinforce commitment of existing program contractors while bringing new ones on board.
  

CSG’s ROLE

CSG was selected to design, develop, and execute the first phase of the training program dubbed the “Weatherization Worker Boot Camp.”

On behalf of the Program Administrators, CSG led the process to establish an education and training center in Fitchburg, MA and worked in collaboration with the:

• Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
  
• Low Income Energy Affordability Network
  
• Center for Ecological Technology

In the hands-on classroom environment, contractors are trained in the proper techniques of air sealing and insulation installation. After attendees demonstrate competence at the required skills, they receive an "authorization to participate" as a contractor or crew member in utility funded programs.

Strategy & goals

CSG’s Applied Building Science team quickly secured a facility and developed curricula for four separate classes including: basic and crew chief levels for both air sealing and insulation techniques, plus health and safety related topics.

CSG also developed an initial three-month schedule, subsequently doubled with an additional three months of training. The strategy also included:

• Constructing twelve learning stations for hands-on training
  
• Building props for students to practice five types of air sealing
  
• Recruiting trainers and enrolling participants

Moving into 2010, CSG will work with Springfield Technical Community College, the institution that will coordinate the state’s longer-term workforce training effort.

Impact

CSG successfully jumpstarted key trainings to supply the quantity and quality of workers needed to reach ambitious energy efficiency goals for Massachusetts.

CSG’s Applied Building Science team is:

• Providing improved business opportunities for contractors
  
• Defining new career paths in clean energy for workers
  
• Helping to improve the local economy during an economic downturn

Classes were filled to capacity.

CSG Contacts

David Weitz, Director, Applied Building Sciences
Shannon Messerole, Training Manager