SUNY Chancellor King Announces $2.6 Million Green Workforce Grant Program to Expand Pathways for Students to Clean Energy Jobs

April 28, 2025

Nearly $250,000 Awarded to SUNY Morrisville, Where Chancellor King Spoke with Students and Faculty about Academic Program Expansion

Photos from His Visit Can Be Found Here


Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced awards from the $2.6 million Green Workforce Grant program to help more students pursue clean energy jobs through academic programs and state-of-the art training equipment. The grant is part of SUNY's ongoing efforts to help develop a skilled green workforce, one of its goals within its Climate and Sustainability Action Plan as New York State moves to use more clean energy sources. Campuses selected for workforce grants include SUNY Adirondack, Alfred State, SUNY Canton, SUNY Cobleskill, Columbia-Greene Community College, SUNY Delhi, Farmingdale State College, Monroe Community College, SUNY Morrisville, Suffolk County Community College, SUNY Schenectady, and SUNY Ulster.

"Addressing climate change and thriving in the clean energy economy will require a highly-educated and well-prepared workforce," said SUNY Chancellor King. "That is why SUNY is committed to empowering our students with the skills and training they will need to advance their careers in high-demand fields. It was wonderful to discuss the Green Workforce Grant awards at SUNY Morrisville, and to meet with President David Rogers, faculty, and students to discuss what clean energy sustainability means for our state's future and how these grants will open up pathways to job opportunities."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Investing in our students and their ability to succeed in the new economy is an investment in New York's future. This grant program will help institutions throughout the SUNY system empower students with hands-on learning opportunities while in school, and with the skillsets they will need to help power New York State innovation for generations to come."

SUNY Morrisville President David Rogers said, "From its founding as a progressive agricultural institution over a century ago, SUNY Morrisville has a proud history of advancing globally sustainable practices and educating generations of committed environmental stewards. This Green Workforce Grant will allow us to provide updated specialized training and microcredentials for electric vehicles, including EV components and systems, charging infrastructure, and EV maintenance and repair. This training will allow new generations of SUNY Morrisville graduates to offer the technical support needed to sustain the EV marketplace and further advance both New York's and SUNY's ambitious sustainability goals."

At SUNY Morrisville, the grant – funded from Governor Kathy Hochul's SUNY Transformation Fund – will support the campus's expansion of the "Electrical Vehicle (EV) Service Repair Technician Training" workforce program for 60 more students. With nearly $250,000 awarded, the campus will expand student scholarships to enroll in green workforce academic programs and credentials; purchase two EVs, EV charging stations, and training equipment; and provide students with more opportunities for paid internships. Faculty will also develop credit-bearing microcredentials for current students and for industry partners to upskill current employees.

In 2023, New Yorkers bought 79,000 new electric vehicles, including both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and nearly 27,000 heat pumps, an emission-free dual heating and cooling technology. Nationally, heat pump sales topped gas-powered furnaces for the past few years; Americans bought 3,616,632 heat pumps in 2023, compared to 2,989,516 gas furnaces. The Green Workforce Grant program is focused on the electrification of buildings and vehicles, an important strategy for decarbonizing New York State under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to meet Governor Hochul's ambitious climate goals. As more consumers buy EVs and heat pumps, New York will need designers, installers, and maintainers who understand that technology.

State Senator Joseph A. Griffo said, "I am pleased that SUNY Morrisville has received funding through the Green Workforce Grant program. This funding will expand the college's Electrical Vehicle (EV) Service Repair Technician Training workforce program, provide for additional EVs and equipment on campus and offer additional internship, learning and career opportunities for students."

State Senator Peter Oberacker said, "I'm grateful to see continued investments in the outstanding programs at SUNY Delhi, SUNY Cobleskill, and SUNY Morrisville—two of which are cornerstone institutions in the 51st District. Preparing the next generation of skilled workers is essential and these grants will help strengthen the already exceptional technical training opportunities available to students. I'm proud to support the growth of programs that directly empower our future workforce."

Assembly Member Joe Angelino said, "I am pleased to see the state investing in the next generation of New Yorkers with this grant money, which will go to expand scholarship and job opportunities for our young people. I know SUNY Morrisville will put these funds to great use, and I cannot wait to be back on campus to see how they are being used."

SUNY's grant program will prepare students to succeed in this growing clean energy market. The grantees will use the SUNY Transformation Fund investment as follows:

  • SUNY Adirondack Community College for heat pump programs
  • Alfred State for EVs and EV charger programs
  • SUNY Canton for heat pumps, building controls, EVs, and EV charging programs
  • SUNY Cobleskill for EVs and EV charger programs
  • Columbia Greene Community College for EVs programs
  • SUNY Delhi for building electrification, heat pumps, and mini-splits programs
  • Farmingdale State College for building electrification programs
  • Monroe Community College for an EV program
  • SUNY Morrisville for EVs and EV charger programs
  • Suffolk County Community College for building electrification and heat pump programs
  • SUNY Schenectady for building electrification, EVs, and EV charger programs
  • SUNY Ulster for buildings and cleantech programs

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

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