ANDOVER — Superintendent John Lavoie spoke before the Clean Energy Caucus (CEC) at the State House earlier this month, providing a keynote perspective on the future of climate-critical workforce development.
Lavoie was invited to speak by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Interim Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jennifer Le Blond to detail how state investments have enabled Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS) to pivot from traditional vocational training to becoming a regional leader in the climate tech economy.
“We are not simply teaching clean energy, we are living it,” Superintendent Lavoie said during his presentation.
“One-hundred percent of the electrical power used at GLTS comes from energy we purchase from a solar farm in Western Massachusetts. Because of the leadership of the Clean Energy Caucus and the vital grants provided by MassCEC, we can scale that commitment, ensuring our students are not just spectators in the green economy, but the people building it.”
The testimony served as a proof of concept for the CEC, demonstrating how GLTS utilized more than $475,000 in MassCEC grants, creating a schoolwide culture of climate readiness. These investments have directly funded:
– The “Living Lab” campus, featuring the installation of geothermal heating, air-source heat pumps, and wind turbine demonstration sites.
– The construction of the state’s first PHIUS-certified, passive home vocational school project.
– A “ClimateTech-Ready” curriculum across 22 career programs, including a Clean Energy Careers unit for all Grade 9 students.
– Adult training in solar installation and building automation, alongside a unique Wage Reimbursement Program for graduates entering the sector.
Superintendent Lavoie said GLTS has modernized its own facilities to ensure students are training on equipment they will encounter in their chosen fields. The Automotive Technology Department now features an electric car service bay, while Auto Collision is in the process of installing a low-temperature infrared spray booth designed specifically for hybrid and electric vehicles.
A new Building Maintenance Technician control lab teaches students to manage complex HVAC building control systems. The HVAC shop has been redesigned to focus on the installation and repair of modern heat pumps. Additionally, the GLTS campus features 16 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, six of which are open to the public.
The Clean Energy Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of over 30 legislators co-chaired by state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, and state Rep. Steven Owens, D-Watertown, focuses on advancing clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through legislation and education.
On March 11, GLTS has accepted another grant award from MassCEC at the 2026 Central MA Regional Clean Energy & Climatetech Workforce Summit.
“GLTS is supporting a transition to a clean energy economy by developing training opportunities in climate-critical careers at our school,” says Director of Workforce Development Susan Almono. “With this $750,000 award, GLTS will complete the first vocational school PHIUS-certified passive building learning lab, complete the GLTS geothermal demonstration system, and supply our HVAC, Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, and Automotive Departments with essential equipment to teach clean energy concepts and skills.”
The grant will also support professional development for instructors, and the installation of a demonstration wind turbine that will produce electricity for the passive home.
“MassCEC’s grants are transformational,” Lavoie said. “But if we are serious about a net-zero future, we must prepare the workforce before the demand outpaces the supply.”