U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Brian Schatz convened a roundtable with labor leaders on July 14 to discuss the future of America’s energy workforce and policies needed to create union jobs, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and build national energy infrastructure.
Heinrich used the event to highlight his newly introduced Pre-Apprenticeships to Hardhats (PATH) Act legislation, which aims to expand access to registered pre-apprenticeship programs. The goal is to address workforce shortages and connect more Americans with skills for in-demand jobs across the energy, manufacturing, and construction sectors. “We need policies that make it easier to build big things in America again. That’s why I’m introducing the Pre-Apprenticeships to Hardhats or PATH Act today. That legislation will strengthen the pipeline to careers by expanding access to quality pre-apprenticeship programs, helping to address the workforce shortages we’re seeing, and growing our economy by connecting more people with the skills they need to succeed,” said Heinrich.
From 2021 through 2024, investments in domestic manufacturing led to a clean energy boom that created hundreds of thousands of jobs in battery manufacturing, solar power, transmission infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and other industries. However, Democratic senators at the roundtable said Republican-led repeal of key energy tax credits since January 2025 has resulted in companies canceling or delaying projects that would have created over 100,000 anticipated clean energy jobs.
Senator Schatz said, “The Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy are costing working people in lost jobs and higher bills all across the country. Clean energy is cheap energy, and we need durable policies that lower costs for Americans and provide certainty for the workers who power our energy infrastructure.” Other Democratic senators participating included Chuck Schumer (Senate Democratic Leader), Sheldon Whitehouse (Ranking Member of Environment and Public Works), Chris Van Hollen, Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley, Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Ed Markey, Maria Cantwell, Ron Wyden; along with several union leaders such as Liz Shuler (AFL-CIO), Brent Booker (LIUNA), Carl Kennebrew (IUE-CWA), Cory McCray (IBEW Local 24), Donnie Blatt (USW District 1), Jason Walsh (BlueGreen Alliance).
Labor leaders emphasized job creation potential from clean energy investment but warned about setbacks from recent policy changes. Liz Shuler said, “The labor movement is united on our goals for the future of the energy sector… But the Trump administration has rolled back progress we made on energy… through [recent federal acts]. We know there’s a better path forward—including restoring that transformative legislation—and labor is committed to partnering with pro-worker elected officials…”
Several speakers pointed out specific impacts such as job losses due to project cancellations or freezes affecting wind power construction workforces. The event concluded with calls from both lawmakers and union representatives for renewed legislative efforts supporting domestic clean-energy development tied closely with good-paying union jobs.