Healey highlights climate workforce program announced at Vatican, partners with Social Finance

Governor Maura Healey told the Wellesley High audience that during a Vatican convening on climate she met Pope Francis and announced a workforce training program to prepare workers for clean-energy jobs.

Healey described the program as a public-private partnership with Social Finance that will focus on building pipelines for electricians, HVAC installers and other trades central to renewable-energy deployment and grid infrastructure. “The heroes of our clean energy revolution are gonna be our electricians and our HVAC installers,” Healey said, adding that the state is positioning itself as a hub for climate technology and the related jobs.

Healey framed the announcement as part of a broader economic development effort and said federal funding, including support from the Biden administration, has helped Massachusetts invest in climate resilience and decarbonization. She said a separate economic development bill includes measures to help Massachusetts become a global hub for climate technology, but the event did not include details on program size, specific funding for the workforce initiative, or a timetable for rollout.

The governor characterized the Vatican visit as a recognition of Massachusetts leadership on climate and described meeting Pope Francis as an honor. No formal policy action or legislative vote on the workforce program was taken at the Wellesley event.