We’re excited to announce that EcoRise has been awarded $728,000 from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to grow our Green Careers Academy in Texas. Thanks to work done in partnership with Austin Energy and Froliq, two Texas-based leaders of the energy transition, and the Galveston-based non-profit, Groundswell, this project will spur place-based workforce development that prepares high school students in Central and Gulf Coast Texas to lead in the clean energy economy.
This award marks our second NASEM grant, building on our successful Growing Galveston Program 2024 partnership with Groundswell (formerly Galveston’s Own Farmers Market). Over the next two years, the program will connect 12,000 Texas students to energy career pathways and provide 90 high school students with paid, hands-on internships in the clean energy sector.
Bringing Energy Careers to Life in Texas Classrooms
Texas generates more wind power than any other state and is rapidly expanding solar and battery storage capacity. The Texas Green Careers Academy creates direct pathways for students to step into these high-demand careers and help shape the energy systems of tomorrow.
The program works across two interconnected levels. Through EcoRise’s robust network of Texas educators, we’ll reach 12,000 K–12 students in Central Texas, Galveston, and the Rio Grande Valley with energy literacy and career exploration woven into their school day. Teachers will receive professional development on topics like grid modernization, solar deployment, and energy efficiency so they can help students see themselves in the future of Texas energy. At Student Innovation Showcases, students will present their sustainability projects to energy professionals and experience virtual reality simulations that bring careers to life.
For 90 high school students, the experience goes deeper. Paid internships will span 110 hours and connect students directly with clean energy employers, municipal agencies, and sustainability organizations. After a multi-day orientation where they explore different energy career paths through VR simulations, students will dive into real work: energy auditing, solar installation, green building analysis, and sustainable urban planning. They earn stipends, receive ongoing mentorship, and build the technical skills and professional confidence to succeed in the sector. We will ensure every student can fully participate in the program by providing supports like transportation assistance, meals, wellness workshops, and career counseling.
Throughout the program, students conduct Youth Participatory Action Research on energy challenges in their own communities, investigating issues like tree canopy disparities, heat vulnerability, and equitable solar deployment. They’ll present their findings to city officials and community members, connecting their lived experiences to the future of Texas energy.
Building This Work Together
This initiative builds upon years of cross-sector partnerships and educational programming expertise to offer a scalable model for energy workforce development that centers youth leadership and builds local talent pipelines, equipping students with industry-aligned skills to propel and sustain the Texas’ energy transition. EcoRise is excited to continue our work with three partners who bring essential expertise and deep community roots.
Austin Energy, a community-owned electric utility serving more than one million Central Texans, has long championed clean energy innovation and equity-focused programs. Their involvement keeps the program grounded in real utility workforce needs while opening doors to concrete career opportunities for students. Amy Atchley, EV Equity Development Manager at Austin Energy, sees this work as fundamental to the future. “At Austin Energy, we want every student to have access to clean energy education,” she said. “We’re thrilled to support this initiative and to collaborate with partners investing in our future green leaders. Through this project, EcoRise is expanding energy resilience literacy, building community, and creating meaningful learning experiences that spark curiosity and empower students to help shape a sustainable tomorrow.”
Groundswell has been our partner since 2022, co-developing a community-rooted internship model through programs like the SEED internship. Their work demonstrates how workforce development creates lasting impact when it’s grounded in community relationships and lived experience. Casey McAuliffe, Executive Director at Groundswell, described the power of this approach: “In collaboration with EcoRise, Groundswell’s SEED internship provides exposure to green careers, sharpens workplace skills, and fosters connections with green professionals to empower students and cultivate a new generation of change-makers.”
Froliq brings the technology that makes energy careers accessible and exciting for students who may never have visited a solar farm or wind installation. Their augmented and virtual reality training tools let students experience hands-on career simulations right in their classrooms. Jason Rodriguez, CEO and Co-Founder of Froliq, emphasized the collaborative nature of this work: “Froliq VR is proud to be part of this collaborative grant team, supporting the Texas Green Careers Academy as it prepares the next generation of Texans for meaningful careers in the clean energy economy.”
What This Means for Texas
For EcoRise, this work represents more than workforce development. It’s about who gets to shape Texas’ energy future. “By connecting young Texans to high-quality careers in clean energy, we’re helping build a more resilient Texas,” said EcoRise’s Chief Program Officer, Brittany Jayroe. “Our students bring lived experience and fresh perspectives that will strengthen the energy sector.”
The Texas Green Careers Academy runs through 2027. If you’re a Texas educator interested in bringing energy career exploration to your classroom, an energy employer looking to connect with emerging talent, or a community partner who wants to support this work, reach out to support@ecorise.org.
Learn more about NASEM’s $2.7 million investment in Gulf region workforce development.
