Building a Green Workforce: How IREC & WhereWeGo Are Advancing Clean Energy Careers

At WhereWeGo, we believe that workforce technology should do more than just provide information—it should connect people to real opportunities that change lives. Our partnership with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) embodies that belief. Together, we built Green Workforce Connect, a platform designed to help workers enter and advance in clean energy careers.

This collaboration has been about more than just launching a website. It’s been about working closely with the IREC team to create a tool that supports their mission: building the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. With two of our co-founders' background in teaching environmental science, this ecosystem-level product for ecosystem-level impacts has been dear to us.

And though it's no secret how important this work is, the rate of growth is still surprising. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, clean energy employment increased by 142,000 jobs in 2023, accounting for more than half of new energy sector jobs and growing at a rate more than twice as large as that for the rest of the energy sector.

A Shared Vision for Workforce Development

IREC has been at the forefront of clean energy workforce development for 40 years, helping to build career pathways in fields like weatherization, solar, and energy efficiency. Their deep expertise, combined with our experience designing worker-centered technology, made for a natural partnership.

From the start, we worked side by side with IREC to understand their goals. We weren’t just developing software—we were designing a system that could help job seekers, training providers, and employers navigate a fast-growing industry. That meant asking the right questions, understanding the challenges workers face, and ensuring that Green Workforce Connect would be a meaningful resource.

Phase One: A Dedicated Hub for Weatherization Careers

Our first project together focused on weatherization—a high-growth sector that needs skilled workers. IREC saw an opportunity to streamline the pathway into weatherization careers, and we worked together to build a platform that made job exploration easier and more accessible.

The first version of Green Workforce Connect launched as a dedicated site for weatherization careers, offering job seekers an interactive tool, connections to training providers, and access to real-world career stories. Employers and contractors could also use the platform to find talent and resources to grow their workforce.

Phase Two: Expanding to Apprenticeships and Beyond

With the success of the initial launch, IREC wanted to expand the platform to include a broader range of career pathways. Apprenticeships—one of the most effective ways to train and retain workers in clean energy—became a key focus of the next phase.

Working closely with IREC, we expanded Green Workforce Connect to include apprenticeship programs, ensuring that workers could find structured, earn-as-you-learn opportunities in renewable energy fields. We built an interactive map to help users locate apprenticeships in their area, and we integrated resources to help organizations develop their own Registered Apprenticeship programs.

This expansion meant aligning with IREC’s broader workforce initiatives, including their efforts to support training providers and employers in developing inclusive, high-quality training programs. The platform became not just a tool for workers but a resource for the entire ecosystem of clean energy workforce development.

A Partnership That’s Driving Impact

Through our work with IREC, Green Workforce Connect has evolved into a powerful tool that connects people to careers in one of the most important industries of our time. But more than that, this partnership has reinforced the power of aligning technology with mission-driven organizations.

The success of Green Workforce Connect comes from our shared commitment to designing solutions that are practical, accessible, and worker-focused. IREC’s expertise in workforce policy and training combined with our ability to build intuitive, scalable technology has resulted in a platform that helps thousands of job seekers find opportunities in the clean energy sector.

Looking Ahead

We know that workforce needs in clean energy will continue to evolve, and our partnership with IREC is built for that evolution. As new sectors emerge and training programs grow, we’ll keep refining Green Workforce Connect to meet the needs of workers, employers, and training providers.

The clean energy transition depends on a skilled and prepared workforce. Through this partnership, we’re helping make that future a reality—one connection at a time.

To see the platform in action, visit Green Workforce Connect and explore the pathways to a career in renewable energy.

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Further reading:

• U.S. Department of Energy - 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) - "Clean energy technologies accounted for 79% of net new electric power generation employment, adding 28,086 jobs. Wind and solar employment grew at rates well above average." - https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-report-shows-clean-energy-jobs-grew-more-twice-rate-overall-us-employment

• E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) - Clean Jobs America 2025 - "At the end of 2024, more than 3.5 million Americans were employed in clean energy occupations, spanning renewable generation, battery and storage, energy efficiency, biofuels, grid modernization and clean vehicles industries." - https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org
• American Clean Power Association - Clean Energy Labor Supply Report - "Clean energy workers make 30% more than the national median wage, ensuring that they have access to good paying jobs that support them and their families." - https://cleanpower.org/resources/cleanenergylaborsupply/