{"id":3863,"date":"2025-07-15T18:09:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T18:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cleanenergycolumbus.org\/?p=3863"},"modified":"2025-07-15T18:09:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T18:09:07","slug":"how-clean-energy-columbus-powers-local-jobs-and-economic-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/columbus.amspro.net\/so\/how-clean-energy-columbus-powers-local-jobs-and-economic-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"How Clean Energy Columbus Powers Local Jobs and Economic Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When most people think about clean energy, they picture fewer emissions and a smaller carbon footprint. But there\u2019s another powerful reason to champion clean energy: it\u2019s a driver of economic growth. Clean energy creates jobs, strengthens local businesses, and opens doors for residents to build new careers right here in Columbus.<\/p>

Investing in Columbus: Workforce Development and Training<\/strong><\/p>

At the heart of CEC\u2019s mission is a commitment to reinvesting in Columbus communities. A portion of the Clean Energy Columbus community grant is directed specifically toward local workforce development and training. This ensures that the transition to clean energy can both help the planet and build new opportunities for Columbus residents.<\/p>

Career Discovery Events<\/strong><\/p>

One of CEC\u2019s key goals is to introduce more people to careers in clean energy through eight Career Discovery Events (two of which were highlighted in CEC\u2019s recent Summer Update<\/a>).<\/p>

Most recently, on June 27th, CEC attended IMPACT\u2019s Beat the Heat event, a hands-on experience where residents explored clean energy concepts by building solar circuits and learning about watershed protection. With help from COSI, participants received kits to explore careers like solar installation. One activity had participants connect a small solar panel and wires to a buzzer, using sunlight to make it buzz.<\/p>

Another activity taught about water pollution: by crumpling a white sheet of paper to mimic land topography, adding dots and lines to represent pollutants, and spraying with water, participants could see how contamination flows into watersheds.<\/p>

Save the Date: The next Career Discovery Event takes place on August 15th at the Columbus Metropolitan Library \u2013 Main Branch downtown from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Interested in a future in clean energy? Come explore demonstrations and speak with local vendors about career pathways.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Achieving Workforce Investment Goals<\/strong><\/p>

CEC also set out to invest $800,000 in local workforce programs in 2025, a goal we\u2019ve proudly met. This funding is already supporting partnerships with four respected nonprofit organizations that have strong roots in the Columbus community:<\/p>