Recent federal policy supports creating middle-class jobs in the “green economy.” The Biden administration has made climate change a policy priority, asserting in many legislative proposals that addressing this problem will also lead to many well-paying jobs in multiple fields. Some states, such as North Carolina, have a decade’s experience leading this transition. Existing local and state initiatives, rapid market shifts toward renewable energy, electric vehicles, and the “greening” of many other fields reflect significant support for expanding the green labor market. In this context, community colleges are considering the role they play in preparing new graduates for green jobs and helping existing workers make related transitions.

To better understand how schools can build programs that provide reliable growth trajectories for students in the green economy, MDRC wanted to learn more about the North Carolina Community College System’s 10-year-old “Code Green” initiative. In 2010, NCCCS launched “Code Green” at its 58 community colleges, which college leaders called the largest curriculum redesign initiative in the system’s history. The system overhauled programs in five sectors that offered a total of 82 degrees in energy efficiency and sustainability, building, transportation, engineering technologies, and environment and energy.

MDRC’s Center for Effective Career and Technical Education (CTE) spoke with Scott Ralls, current president of Wake Tech Community College,, and Bryan Ryan, Wake Tech vice president of effectiveness and innovation, to learn from their experiences.

Ralls: Most green jobs have a foundation in fundamental skills that we were already training in. Did we need green car [training] or did we need to make sure that our technicians had knowledge about electric and other forms of alternative fuels? We’re not just teaching a solar program. It’s individuals becoming electricians and heating and air conditioning technicians who are learning and being certified in [solar] as part of their broader portfolio.

Read the full article about higher education's role in "greening" US jobs Erika B. Lewy and Rachel Rosen at MDRC.