Westchester & Putnam leaders convene clean energy workforce summit October 13
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne invite businesses, workforce professionals, community organizations, educational leaders and job seekers to participate in the WPWDB’s 2026 Annual Meeting. The event (originally scheduled for September) will take place on Tuesday, October 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Gateway Center, Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY. Those who previously registered for the original September date do not need to re-register. Those who can no longer attend due to the date change, are asked to send an email to sbruck@harquin.com to cancel their registration. New registrations are still being accepted.
As clean energy industries continue to expand across New York State and the Hudson Valley region, Westchester and Putnam counties have the opportunity to align workforce systems, education, and employer needs to meet rising demand. This year’s WPWDB Annual Meeting will focus on strengthening pathways into the green economy by connecting training providers, employers and job seekers to emerging opportunities in renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage and clean transportation.
This year’s theme, “Building the Clean Energy Talent Machine: Aligning Training with Opportunity,” will feature a compelling keynote on the State of the Clean Energy Sector delivered by Angela N. Son, CEO of The Green Launchpad and Antuan Cannon, Vice President of Talent Development and Innovation at Willdan Energy Solutions.
Together, they will provide attendees with a data-driven understanding of the local clean energy economy and highlight emerging workforce trends that are shaping the future of sustainable employment in Westchester and Putnam.
Following the keynote, participants will engage in three interactive breakout groups:
- Jobseekers and Community – Navigating Green Career Pathways by identifying transferable skills and entry points into clean energy careers.
- Employers – Building the Pipeline through discussion of hiring challenges, incentives, and wage subsidy opportunities.
- Workforce Professionals and Partners – System alignment strategies to better connect education and training systems to industry demand.
Jenkins said: “The transition to clean energy is not just an environmental imperative, but an economic one. We have an extraordinary opportunity to prepare our workforce for high-growth industries while strengthening our regional economy. This annual meeting will help ensure our employers, educators and workforce systems are aligned for long-term success.”
Byrne said; “As industries evolve, our workforce development strategies must evolve with them. By building stronger connections between business, education and workforce systems, we can ensure residents and employers alike benefit from the opportunities emerging in the clean energy sector.”
Registration: This event is free of charge and will take place in-person. Breakfast will be served. Register at: rebrand.ly/WPWDB-2026-Annual-Meeting