Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation (PGC) has partnered with Penn College’s Clean Energy Center to co-develop a workforce development hub, training lab, and community engagement space in Pittsburgh.

The Clean Energy Center – Pittsburgh will focus on weatherization and building performance training, providing in-demand skills and certifications for both residential renovations and new home construction careers. The mission of the Clean Energy Center – Pittsburgh is to teach how to reduce energy consumption in homes and communities, while also improving comfort and safety.

The Center is located at the 7800 Susquehanna Street complex developed and managed by Bridgeway Capital in Homewood, and will open in early 2025 to serve as a:

  • training facility to deliver the full slate of the Clean Energy Center’s building science training programs to current & future workers; the Home Energy Professional (HEP) program teaches individuals how to perform energy audits and product installation techniques to reduce energy bills, while remediating health and safety issues like mold, lead paint and carbon monoxide.
  • recruitment resource, providing outreach to students and adults of all ages considering career paths in the residential building industry.
  • business incubation hub for contractors and partners seeking to expand their capacity through apprenticeship-style opportunities and business development support.
  • community engagement platform, informing community members of the opportunities to improve the health, safety and efficiency of their homes.

The Clean Energy Center – Pittsburgh will develop skilled workers and quality contractors to serve all residential construction projects in our region, with a particular focus on environmental justice communities where the need to reduce energy burden and improve the housing stock is in high demand.

To maximize our impact through this partnership, Pittsburgh Gateways seeks to collaborate with a wide audience of organizations in the ecosystem related to this work, such as:

  • Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs
  • Contractors, Vendors, Designers, Auditors
  • Community Groups & Community Based Organizations
  • Affordable Housing providers
  • Building Science, Building Performance, Healthy Homes professionals
  • Small Business Development services
  • Clean Energy, Electrification, and Emerging Technologies

As co-developer, Pittsburgh Gateways will have onsite presence to welcome all visitors, trainees, community members and partners to the Clean Energy Center – Pittsburgh.

For more information, or to get involved, contact our Director of Building Performance Programs, Karen Benner, here.

Read the press release from Penn College here.

Visit the Clean Energy Center website here.