Workforce Development

Join the fast-growing clean energy industry with a paid training and internship!

CEE offers paid training to join the fast-growing clean energy and energy efficiency sector. We prioritize training Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latine, 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!

Green Construction Training Home Energy Career Training

Additional 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.

https://www.hennepin.us/en/residents/licenses-certificates-permits/drivers-licenses#

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 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 also 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? Contact our workforce development team at careertraining@mncee.org

Meet our partners

Paid Five-Week In-Person Training

Earn $550 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.

Training length:

• Twin Cities: 5-week paid training

• Greater Minnesota: 3-week paid training with the opportunity to continue on for an additional week.

Training includes:

• Basics of building science and home energy audits, insulation, and air sealing

• Installation training from experts

• Relevant job-site safety guidelines, math for construction, and more!

• Basic support services (e.g., bus, gas cards, etc.)

Following the training program, participants will have the opportunity to join one of two paid internship tracks and will be provided with job placement assistance on completing the program.

• TRACK 1: Energy Auditor

Earn Building Analyst BPI Certification

• TRACK 2: Insulation Contractor

Earn Home Insulation BPI 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 internship
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

Must have a driver’s license by the beginning of the internship
Able to life 40-50 pounds

Energy Auditor Track

Insurable driving record preferred
Able to pass the DOT physical exam
Able to crawl, climb, and move in tight spaces
Ability to pass the Xcel background check
Customer service orientated with strong communication skills

Home Insulator and Air Sealing Track

Insurable driving record required
Able to pass a one-time drug test

Sign Up

Fill out the entire form below and a CEE staff person will be in touch with you shortly. Please direct any additional questions to careertraining@mncee.org .

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).

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

Registration for this program is closed. Please register for the Home Energy Career Training or contact us at CareerTraining@mncee.org with any questions.

Following the paid 45-hour training, there will be a paid two-week intensive hands-on training to allow for a deeper dive into HVAC and insulation. 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.

Age 18-30 at time of enrollment
Ramsey County resident (or if experiencing homelessness, must be connected to Ramsey County)
Legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Must have a valid driver's license
5th/6th grade reading and math level and advanced intermediate English required
Preference to low-income individuals and those with barriers to employment/education

Sign Up

Registration for this program is closed. Please register for the Home Energy Career Training or contact us at CareerTraining@mncee.org with any questions.