US funds eight firms to train geothermal heat pump workers
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The US Department of Energy selected eight firms across the country to receive funding for programs that will train workers to install and maintain geothermal heat pumps.
The Geothermal Technologies Office awarded each of the firms USD 150,000 to develop workforce development programs as part of Phase 2 of the GHP PATHs competition.
Born Global, Cold Climate Innovation, Egg Geo, Energy Environmental Corporation, GEI Consultants, Midwest Geothermal Collaboration, Nauman Innovation Group, and Northwest GeoExchange each proposed a different approach to building a skilled workforce for the growing geothermal heat pump industry. These projects focus on regions including New England, Alaska, Colorado, the Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest, reflecting a national effort to expand geothermal heating and cooling. The current funding represents the “Engage” phase of the competition.
After this phase, the teams will move to “Execute,” where they will implement their training programs and demonstrate their effectiveness by tracking the number of workers hired and trained. The Department of Energy plans to distribute a remaining prize pool of USD 100,000 to USD 400,000 to the winning teams based on the success of their programs.
This multi-phase program aims to increase the availability of trained professionals, which the Department of Energy believes is essential for wider adoption of geothermal heat pump technology nationwide.
