A new workforce training program at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is set to prepare New Yorkers for jobs maintaining and repairing electric vehicle charging systems as demand for clean energy infrastructure continues to grow.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. has been awarded $450,000 from the New York Power Authority to develop the initiative, part of a broader $5 million statewide effort to align job training with New York’s transition to renewable energy.
The program, created in partnership with SmarterHelp, is expected to launch later this year following the buildout of a dedicated Smart Lab at the Navy Yard. The facility will include electric vehicle charging units and hands-on training equipment designed to mirror real-world conditions.
"Workforce development should be driven by actual jobs and designed around the lives people actually lead," said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. "By making this program part-time, accessible and rooted in a growing industry, we're ensuring that NYC is expanding clean energy capacity while simultaneously creating lasting economic mobility for New Yorkers who have too often been shut out of the promise of a good job."
Participants will receive technical instruction in electrical systems, energy fundamentals and charging equipment maintenance, along with preparation for industry certifications. The goal is to connect graduates directly to employment opportunities in a rapidly expanding sector.
Organizers have structured the program as part-time, making it accessible to working adults and those unable to commit to full-time training. The approach is intended to lower barriers to entry while expanding access to stable, well-paying jobs tied to the clean energy economy.
The initiative comes as New York continues to scale up its electric vehicle charging network, increasing the need for skilled technicians to support installation, maintenance and long-term reliability.
"The SmarterHelp Training Center is aligned with the Navy Yard’s vision of creating pathways into skilled jobs for underserved New Yorkers," said Lindsay Greene, president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. "By meeting people where they are, we are ensuring that the future of the green workforce is both sustainable and inclusive."
New York’s clean energy sector now includes about 185,000 jobs, with continued growth expected as the state invests in climate-focused infrastructure and workforce development.
