County Office Partners to Build the Clean Energy Workforce

The County Office and its partners are taking significant steps to prepare local students for green careers in high demand, including electric vehicle and clean energy industries. Through the Electric Vehicle (EV) Collaborative—funded by Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) and facilitated by the County Office’s College, Career, and Community Partnerships (C3P) team—the county is bringing together educators, labor partners, and industry leaders to design a robust EV and clean-energy career pathway for students in northern San Mateo County.

San Mateo County already boasts one of the strongest sustainability-focused educational ecosystems in California. Nearly 65% of high school students participate in Career Technical Education (CTE) courses, many of which integrate themes of environmental stewardship and green technology. 

Building on this foundation, the EV Collaborative brings together County Office staff with those at Jefferson Union High School District (JUHSD); Skyline College; IBEW Local 617; Proterra, a leader in battery systems and electric transit; and Peninsula Clean Energy, which provides clean electricity to 97% of customers in San Mateo County, to expand students’ access to green careers. For example, the collaborative conducted a countywide landscape analysis during the 2024-25 school year to identify opportunities to align high school and college courses in automotive and engineering with jobs in clean energy, such as electric vehicle construction and maintenance, clean energy infrastructure, and equipment modernization.

“We offer rebates for used electric vehicles, as well as for homeowners to install electric heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems. However, we need more EV charging at public locations and in multifamily buildings, and more heat pumps to replace old gas appliances. Installers need more trained staff to keep up with demand,” shared Kirsten Andrews-Schwind, Associate Director, Community Relations and Climate Equity. “Investing in high-quality high school and college curriculum is an excellent way to reinvest in our customers, which include students, their families, and school districts across San Mateo County.”

JUHSD students began the 2025-26 school year engaging in new lessons that better prepare them for high-demand jobs in green technology. For example, students in the Jefferson High School engineering pathway are participating in new hands-on projects with an electric heat pump training system and Raspberry Pi microcontrollers that help to teach about renewable energy and smart-grid technology. In the Westmoor High School automotive pathway, students are learning about electric propulsion systems, battery management, regenerative braking, and EV diagnostics to teach them about modern, energy-efficient vehicle design and repair. 

Already, students are showing strong curiosity and engagement in clean energy concepts, and have an increased interest in automotive, electrical engineering, and sustainability careers. They have also gained relevant certifications and training to meet the demand for clean energy and green transportation careers.

This process helped us see the real-world relevance of EV instruction and the workforce opportunities it opens for students,” shared David Dyssegard, who teaches an automotive pathway at Westmoor High School. “I am grateful for the collaboration, and moving forward together to strengthen EV offerings and prepare students for clean energy careers.”

Through this work, the EV Collaborative is ensuring that San Mateo County students are not only prepared to enter the clean-energy workforce, but are positioned to lead California’s transition to a sustainable, electrified future.