Massachusetts has announced the creation of a pioneering curriculum designed to introduce high school students and participants in workforce development programs to careers in the clean energy and climate technology sectors. Known as Massachusetts Climate Careers: Powering the Future, the curriculum provides an engaging introduction to more than 50 clean energy and climatetech career pathways, such as engineers, energy auditors, architects, millwrights, piledrivers, and project managers.

The curriculum is designed to be accessible and adaptable to different learning environments. It includes ready-to-use lesson plans, interactive career exploration activities, and multimedia resources that connect students and job seekers with real-world clean energy professionals. With a focus on hands-on learning and self-reflection, the curriculum encourages participants to envision themselves in the field while equipping them with the foundational knowledge needed to take the next step in their careers.

Each lesson brings students into real-world Massachusetts projects and companies through interactive content, industry-aligned activities, and firsthand career stories from diverse professionals in the field. Some videos that accompany the lessons (examples embedded below) can be found on MassCEC’s YouTube page.

“There are thousands of good-paying, family sustaining job opportunities in the climate sector, and employers need skilled talent to fill them,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By introducing students and job seekers to the exciting opportunities in clean energy and climatetech, this curriculum will inspire the next generation to take part in building a stronger, more resilient Massachusetts.”

The curriculum is part of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Clean Energy Innovation Career Pathway Program. It was developed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across Massachusetts. The curriculum was shaped by MassCEC’s findings from their recent Workforce Needs Assessment. Released in July 2023, the assessment found that the clean energy workforce in the Massachusetts needs to experience significant growth in coming years for the Commonwealth to achieve its decarbonization goals. It also found that upskilling is lagging because many students and job seekers are unaware of careers in the clean energy field. The new curriculum hopes to change that.

“Massachusetts needs 34,000 more clean energy workers by the end of the decade to keep our clean energy transition on track,” said MassCEC CEO Dr. Emily Reichert. “By introducing students and job seekers to the diverse career opportunities in clean energy and climatetech, this curriculum helps build the workforce we need to make homes and buildings more energy-efficient, electrify transportation, and modernize the electric grid.”

The curriculum will support schools already participating in the state’s Clean Energy Innovation Pathway initiative, which is currently being piloted by Carver Middle High School, Hopkins Academy, Norwood High School, CityLab Innovation School, and Reading Memorial High School. Teachers from several of these schools have already begun testing the materials, and the curriculum will be available for statewide adoption in the 2025-2026 school year.

“Introducing a first-of-its-kind career awareness curriculum is critical to preparing the next generation for the challenges of climate change. By exposing students early to the impacts of climate change, emerging solutions, and the wide spectrum of local clean energy careers, we’re not only building awareness—we’re creating pathways,” said Elizabeth Simmons, Vice President of External Affairs at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “This curriculum aligns with the mission of Massachusetts Maritime Academy to produce career-ready graduates who are leading the transition to a more sustainable, resilient future.”

The new curriculum is the latest addition to MassCEC’s growing workforce development portfolio, including its Clean Energy Internship Program, Workforce Equity Programs, Climate Service Corps, Climate-Critical Workforce Grants, Heat Pump and HVAC Training Network, and Offshore Wind Works Program. Educators and administrators interested in participating can find more information at https://cleanenergyeducation.org/curriculum/.

While the materials above have been created for students and jobseekers in Massachusetts, workforce development is needed outside of the Commonwealth, too. Luckily, the materials are not entirely state- or region-specific, meaning the curriculum can be used to help introduce younger people outside of Massachusetts to the promise of the green economy and to fuel the kind of surge in upskilling we need nationwide.