Stony Brook University
12/09/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/10/2025 02:08
NYPA Awards Stony Brook $644K for Clean Energy Workforce Development
Inaugural Power Pathways Workforce Readiness program is among several awards announced by Governor Hochul
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $40 million in new annual workforce development funding over the next four years from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop the workforce needed to support advanced nuclear energy in Upstate New York. The funding, approved December 9 by the NYPA Board of Trustees, will directly support the Governor's call in June for the Power Authority to develop at least one gigawatt of advanced nuclear power in Upstate New York.
The Power Authority board also awarded a total of $4 million to universities and organizations - including the State University of New York at Stony Brook - to develop and expand programs that prepare New Yorkers for high-demand careers in artificial intelligence, electromechanical trades, and advanced power systems to meet the evolving needs of the renewable energy sector.
"New York is leading the clean energy revolution, and NYPA is powering that progress with bold investments in workforce development," Governor Hochul said. "By investing in the advanced nuclear workforce and expanding access to affordable, hands-on training in AI and advanced energy systems, we're preparing New Yorkers for the high-quality, high-demand jobs of tomorrow - and ensuring every community can share in the benefits of a cleaner, more equitable energy future."
The Power Authority's approval of $4 million for clean energy workforce training stems from a commitment of up to $25 million annually, as outlined in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget. The budget legislation also directed NYPA to advance renewable energy projects that will strengthen New York's electric grid with a portfolio of diversified energy resources. Since 2024, NYPA has obligated more than $41 million for clean energy training programs, supporting more than 1,700 trainees and more than 30 workforce training organizations statewide.
The NYPA Board of Trustees approved a $644,ooo award for Stony Brook that will be leveraged to launch the University's inaugural Power Pathways Workforce Readiness program, which will train students in both trade-based and advanced technology disciplines. The program will provide certification and training in areas including solar, drone inspections, geothermal heat pumps, and HVDC power systems.
"Stony Brook's mission centers on driving innovation, economic growth, and workforce development across Long Island, and throughout our great state of New York," said Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith. "We are grateful to Governor Hochul for today's announcement that will allow us to prepare more students for successful careers in the critically important field of clean energy. As a SUNY flagship and number one public university in New York committed to access, opportunity, and upward mobility, we applaud the Governor's visionary investment."
"SUNY campuses throughout New York State are world-class research and development institutions as well as key economic drivers that prepare the next generation of New Yorkers for the jobs of the future," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. "We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and investment in workforce development."
Beginning next year, NYPA will partner with qualified workforce development providers, including technical high schools, community colleges, universities, labor unions, and others to utilize the $40 million over a four-year period to develop nuclear energy technical training, retraining, coursework and apprenticeship programs to prepare workers for employment in the advanced nuclear energy field.
"New York's clean-energy transition only works if it comes with real career opportunities for the people who live in our communities," said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. "Building on the success of our annual investment of up to $25 million for clean energy training to support the renewable energy sector, the Power Authority will add up to $40 million over four years to develop and retrain the workforce necessary to support advanced nuclear power, providing more opportunities for New Yorkers to pursue careers in this high-demand industry."
The NYPA clean energy workforce development funding awards largely support the efforts of the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) to connect workers to job opportunities in the clean energy economy. Many of the upskilling and training initiatives have a focus on serving those who are traditionally underrepresented, especially within disadvantaged communities. This fall, Governor Hochul announced the NYPA Board of Trustees' approval of $12 million for electric vehicle training programs and support for trainees' childcare, transportation, student fees and books through the NYSDOL Support Services Fund.
NYPA actively engages with each community training organization to ensure skills training is matched with needed positions and participant success through supportive wraparound services. NYPA's collaboration with the skills-training organizations include input on the classroom and hands-on technology experiences of the enrollees for promoting the requisite clean energy skills to ensure statewide reach of the awards.
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Stony Brook University published this content on December 09, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 10, 2025 at 08:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]