Washington HB 1176: Climate and Clean Energy Service and Workforce Programs

Washington House Bill 1176, passed May 4, 2023, creates the Washington Climate Corps Network. In recognizing that climate change presents adaptation and resilience difficulties to Washington, HB 1176 looks to mobilize young adults and “create a clean energy economy.” The Washington Climate Corps Network will emphasize “equity-centered, climate-related service programs.” There is an additional emphasis on recruiting volunteers from “overburdened and underserved communities” to serve as volunteers. 

Serve Washington, created by Washington Executive Order 16-08 in 2016, is the network’s administrator. As the administrator of the Climate Corps Network, Serve Washington is responsible for 

  • “Connecting, amplifying, and growing” service opportunities and providing training to young adults and veterans;
  • Creating standard requirements for service programs that participate in the Washington Climate Corps Network; and
  • Administering grants to support access to climate-related service programs, prioritizing “service in, for, or by members of overburdened communities.” These grants may support “equitable access to participation in the Washington Climate Corps Network,” “lowering the cost of the Network to host service members,” and supporting new development of future service programs. 

HB 1176 creates climate-related volunteer opportunities for young people in overburdened communities. It also provides grants, which allow greater participation and access from people who live in overburdened communities to the positions. They may also lower the cost of the volunteer programs for host organizations. The intended effect is to decrease the administrative burden on the hosts, making programs more affordable and widely available. 

HB 1176 allows the Washington Climate Corps Network, in consultation with Serve Washington, to adopt rules, such as establishing eligibility criteria and prioritization and selection criteria for grants. The organization is also empowered by statute to accept gifts and donations from private institutions and to form strong relationships with the surrounding community. 

HB 1176 requires the Board of the Washington Climate Corps Network to create a clean energy technology workforce advisory committee. The committee will review business issues in the energy sector and support job creation by recommending ways to prevent displacement of adversely impacted Washington workers. The board is also responsible for revising its workforce training for clean energy occupations every two years. In addition, the board must study benefits for workers who have lost their jobs due to technology sector changes. Finally, the statute requires the board to report to the Governor of Washington every two years to discuss how the state can better support worker and employer needs in responding to a changing clean technology sector.

Publication Date: May 4, 2023

Related Organizations:

  • Serve Washington

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Resource Types:

  • Education/training materials
  • Laws

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