February 14th, 2024

Following the passage of the Clean Energy and Jobs Act, Governor Whitmer established the new Community & Worker Economic Transition Office within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The office will lead efforts to develop a statewide plan for upcoming advancements into high-tech EV manufacturing and clean energy opportunities. Additionally, the office will help build a more resilient state workforce by helping workers access high-quality jobs and providing employers with proactive direction to funding and resources to retool their equipment and train their employees to keep up with the evolving demand for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies. 

According to the 2023 Clean Jobs America Report, clean energy businesses in Michigan added more than 5,400 workers in 2022 and now employ 123,983 Michiganders making Michigan the number one state in the Midwest in clean energy workers. Additionally, according to the World Resource Institute, the state could create 41,000 new jobs by 2040 due to advances in electric vehicle manufacturing and the build out of renewable energy. The establishment of this office is the first in the nation to address shifts to renewable energy in both the utility and auto sectors, which make up more than 20% of the state’s economy, and we commend Governor Whitmer on her move to transition Michigan towards a clean energy future.