Workforce Development
Join the energy efficiency industry with a paid training and internship!
Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) offers paid training to join the clean energy and energy efficiency sector, which presents many opportunities. We prioritize training Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latine participants, people of color, and women from communities across the Twin Cities that have been underrepresented in this industry. Past graduates have gone on to work as energy auditors, insulation installers, line workers, contractors, and more.
Check out each page below to learn more about eligibility and registration!
Resources
Applicants must have a valid driver’s license before the beginning of the internship to be eligible. Here is a link to the Hennepin County Driver's License landing page for support regarding obtaining a license for the first time or reinstating it. While the link is provided by Hennepin County, all information applies to residents across all of Minnesota.
Having been impacted by the justice system won't affect your ability to participate in the classroom training or internship.
Please note: A felony conviction or conviction involving fraud, theft, or dishonesty within the last seven (7) years may significantly impact your ability to be employed as an energy auditor. Please contact CEE staff at CareerTraining@mncee.org with any questions or concerns related to this.
There are resources available to help support you through the expungement process:
Hennepin County expungement resources
- Help Seal My Record (HSMR) Program | Offered by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, this program assists individuals whose offenses were prosecuted by their office. If eligible, the office manages the expungement process on your behalf. Note that offenses prosecuted by city attorneys or in other counties are not eligible.
- Expungement Clinics | The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office periodically hosts expungement clinics. These clinics provide information and assistance with the expungement process.
- Hennepin County Legal Referrals | This page, provided by the Minnesota State Law Library, offers a comprehensive directory of legal assistance resources for residents of Hennepin County. It includes information on organizations such as the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN), which provides free legal services to low-income individuals through clinics and volunteer attorneys. Services cover various legal areas, including family law, housing, immigration, criminal expungement, and more.
Ramsey County expungement resources
- Ramsey County Attorney’s Office Expungement Program | This office assists individuals with offenses prosecuted by the office. If eligible, they will handle the expungement process at no cost, and you typically won't need to appear in court.
- Ramsey County Law Library Clinics | The Law Library hosts free expungement clinics on the fourth (4th) Thursdays of each month from 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Volunteer attorneys provide information and assistance with the expungement process.
- Neighborhood Justice Center | Provides criminal defense and expungement services for low-income residents of Ramsey, Washington, and Dakota Counties. Contact them at (651) 222-4703 for more information.
Have questions? Our team is here to help.
Meet our partners
Paid five-week, in-person training
Earn $650 per week and receive an industry-recognized credential in Building Science Principles (BSP). Building science explores how changing one part of a home affect homeowners’ comfort, health, and safety. Program participants go on to have careers in energy auditing, HVAC, insulation, and more.
Training includes:
- Basics of building science, home energy audits, insulation, and air sealing
- Hands-on skills needed in energy auditing, HVAC, or insulation careers
- Installation training from experts
- Relevant job site instruction, like math for construction and job safety
- Basic support services (e.g., bus, gas cards, etc.)
Training length:
- Twin Cities: 5-week paid training
- Greater Minnesota: 3-week paid training with the opportunity to continue on for an additional week.
After finishing the training program, participants will have the opportunity to join one of two paid internship tracks. Interns have the opportunity to work toward the following certifications, and will be provided with job placement assistance after completing the program.
Track 1: Energy auditor
Earn the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) certification
Track 2: Insulation contractor
Earn the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Home Insulation certification
18 years or older
Legally authorized to work in the U.S.
5th grade level reading and math
Basic computer skills
Must have a driver's license by the beginning of the training
Participants may be in the process of getting a license when they register, but must have received a license before the training begins
We are prioritizing those who reside in a Green Zone area of Minneapolis or one of the ACP50 zones in St. Paul. Those neighborhoods include:
Saint Paul: Thomas-Dale (commonly known as Frogtown), Rondo (located in Summit-University neighborhood), North End, Payne-Phalen, Greater East Side, Dayton's Bluff, West Side, Downtown
Minneapolis: Bottineau, Cedar-Riverside, East Phillips, Hawthorne, Marshall Terrace, McKinley, Midtown Phillips, Near North, Phillips West, Sheridan and Ventura Village
All internships
Have a valid driver’s license
Participants may be in the process of getting a license when they register, but must have received a license before the training and internship begin
Be able to lift 40–50 pounds
Energy auditor track
Be able to crawl, climb, and move in tight spaces
Be able to pass the Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam
Be able to pass the Xcel Energy background check
Have a customer service orientation and strong communication skills
Insurable driving record preferred
Home insulator and air sealing track
Be able to pass a one-time drug test
Insurable driving record required
Sign up
Please fill out the form below to let us know you're interested in this training opportunity. Feel free to contact us at CareerTraining@mncee.org with any questions.
Meet our partners
Paid in-person training
CEE will provide a paid 45-hour hands-on exploratory training funded by Ramsey County and in partnership with Saint Paul College for those interested in careers within insulation and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). Program participants have started careers in these fields and others after graduating.
Training includes:
- Basics of construction, building science, heating, ventilation, and mechanical systems
- Opportunity to earn industry-recognized, stackable credentials with NREL
- Hands-on skills needed in residential insulation and HVAC
- Exposure to cutting-edge HVAC technologies from industry experts
Following the paid 45-hour training, there will be a paid two-week intensive hands-on training to do a deeper dive into HVAC and insulation and see what careers in the field are like. Participants will have the opportunity to enter directly into employment or continue on for a paid 4–6-month long internship with a local HVAC or insulation company to learn more about energy efficiency on the job.
All participants must:
Be age 18–30 at time of enrollment
Be a Ramsey County resident (or, if experiencing homelessness, be connected to Ramsey County)
Be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Have a valid driver's license at the start of the training
Participants may be in the process of getting a license when they register, but must have received a license before the training begins
Have 5th or 6th grade reading and math ability and advanced intermediate English
Preference will be given to low-income individuals and those with barriers to employment or education
Sign up
Please fill out the form below to let us know you're interested in this training opportunity. Feel free to contact us at CareerTraining@mncee.org with any questions.
Meet our partners
Help grow Minnesota’s energy efficiency workforce
Get paid to host an intern as they complete a clean energy career training program with CEE. Interns receive prior training in building science and can have flexible hours on the job site or in the company shop. At the end of their training, they will be eligible for industry-recognized credentials. Salary, benefits, and insured workers’ compensation are provided by CEE. You can play a critical role in supporting your industry as it grows.
Additional details
Expand your workforce and help your community members jumpstart their careers with CEE’s career training program. When you host an intern, you will:
- Be a leader in your industry
- Grow a diverse workforce of employees who are eager to grow and advance in your industry
- Join a cohort of contractors to connect on the success and challenges of training and retention in your field
- Add to the capacity of your team flexible hours on the job or in the shop from each intern for the 14-week program
- Have the opportunity to hire your interns yourselves after their training is completed
- CEE encourages hiring interns after their training to help them continue their journeys. Interns are effective hires, because they'll be familiar with your work and have a proven track record of their skills
CEE will equip trainees with the skills, knowledge, and certifications they need to start a new career. We’re committed to their success, including at your organization, which is why we will:
- Provide all interns with hands-on training and the opportunity to earn industry credentials (e.g., EPA 608, BPI Air Leakage Control Installer, Building Analyst-Technician)
- Training topics include building science, energy audits, insulation and air sealing, job site safety, math for construction, and more
- Coordinate an introductory meeting between you and your interns to gauge how they’ll add to your company and culture
- Provide salary, benefits, and insured workers’ compensation for all interns
- Interns are paid $18.50 per hour with some benefits, including 40 hours of PTO
- Internships last 14 weeks
- Interns typically have flexible hours and spend 35 to 40 hours per week on the job site or at your shop on various tasks, like self-paced training videos for additional credentials (e.g., OSHA 10) through SkillCat
- Compensate you for hosting interns
- Offer you the opportunity to hire interns after their training is completed for trusted, proven employees with minimal onboarding needs
Ready to get started?
If you'd like to be considered as an employer partner, please fill out the form. If you have any questions, you may contact our team at Employer-Partners@mncee.org for more information.
Meet our employers
