As Clean Energy Jobs Grow in Connecticut, CT State Prepares Students for Workforce Demand

More than 47,000 jobs are supported by Connecticut’s clean energy sector, which continues to outpace overall state employment growth, according to the 2025 Connecticut Clean Energy Industry Report. Connecticut State Community College (CT State) is training students to meet that workforce demand through programs focused on energy, environmental, and sustainability careers.

One example is the Energy Management program at CT State Tunxis, which prepares students for roles such as energy auditor and energy analyst. Students learn to evaluate energy use, analyze building systems, and identify efficiency improvements across commercial, industrial, municipal, and utility settings, with hands-on experience in HVAC systems, lighting technologies, industrial processes, and renewable energy systems.

“Employers across Connecticut need people who can step into roles in energy, environmental, and sustainability fields right away,” said Michelle Coach, Ed.D., school dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) at CT State. “Energy efficiency is a major driver of that demand, and our programs give students the practical skills to move directly into the workforce or continue their education.”

CT State offers programs aligned to these workforce needs across clean energy, environmental science, and sustainability fields, including:

• Clean Water Management (certificate)
• Environmental Engineering Technology (degrees and certificates)
• Environmental Science (degrees and certificates, with a Sustainability option)
• Horticulture (degree and certificates)
• Technology Studies (including Energy Management and Environmental Science options)

Some programs include stackable credentials and transfer pathways, including an option for Energy Management students to transfer directly to Central Connecticut State University. Through grant funding from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, CT State offers scholarships that may cover the full cost of the Energy Management program for eligible students who do not qualify for the college’s free tuition program.

Graduates are prepared for careers in environmental protection, engineering technology, water resource management, and sustainability planning—fields that support infrastructure, natural resources, and economic growth across Connecticut.

Students interested in CT State’s environmental and energy programs can learn more at www.ctstate.edu. Credit registration is in progress at CT State Community College (CT State) campuses statewide. Fall 2026 semester credit classes begin on August 27 with a mix of on-campus, online, and hybrid course options.