NYPA Press Release

or Alex Chiaravalle (NYPA) Alex.Chiaravalle@nypa.gov (518) 860-9935 

NYPA and HVCC Announce New Electric Vehicle Workforce Training Partnership Through Electrify America Grant

New York Power Authority and Hudson Valley Community College Program to Equip NYS Educators and Prepare Students for Careers in EV Industry

Electrify America Builds on Evolve NY Partnership with NYPA

See Photos and Video of Yesterday’s Event

Albany, N.Y.—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) are forging a new workforce training collaboration with a $105,000 grant from Electrify America, the largest open Hyper-Fast charging network in the U.S. that installs and maintains many of NYPA’s Evolve NY fast-charging sites. The grant will enable the creation of regional train-the-trainer automotive technology workshops throughout New York. Hudson Valley and NYPA celebrated the award yesterday in the college’s EV charging lab in Williams Hall. Representatives from HVCC, NYPA, SUNY and the New York State Education Department came together to mark the important advancement of New York State electric vehicle education and workforce development.

"As the automotive industry continues to embrace the expansion of electric vehicles, it is essential for today's students to gain expertise in EV technology through workforce readiness programs,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “By working together with Hudson Valley Community College, the Power Authority will provide New York-based instructors with access to specialized trainings, enabling them to equip their students for careers in this transformative field."

Attendees at the auto lab event heard from key stakeholders about the program's vision to equip educators with the skills needed to prepare students for careers in the growing electric vehicle sector, furthering New York’s clean energy and workforce diversification goals.

“Electrify America is committed to providing access to zero-emission vehicles while building a skilled domestic workforce to support expanding EV infrastructure,” said Robert Barrosa, president and CEO of Electrify America. “Supporting local programs like New York Power Authority and Hudson Valley Community College’s education and readiness program helps move electrification forward and ensures the success of the industry.”

Over a two-year period, the partnership will create state-of-the-art EV education for industry professionals and advance workforce readiness for students entering the automotive field. The training programs will bring automotive technology educators together from regions across New York State to learn best practices to prepare students for impactful careers, promote sustainable practices and educate learners about opportunities to further minimize carbon emissions from the transportation sector.

“For more than 70 years, Hudson Valley has helped to grow the state’s workforce and advance skills that meet industry demand, and we are honored to be chosen to expand EV training throughout the state and for the next generation of auto-tech workers. I share my appreciation with Electrify America for its vision and investment, and I congratulate Dr. Chris McNally, department chair for Applied Technologies, and the expert faculty at Hudson Valley Community College who will support this new workforce training opportunity. We look forward to fostering this new partnership with NYPA to address the urgent need for trained electric vehicle technicians,” Hudson Valley Community College Officer in Charge Louis Coplin said.

In total, NYPA and Hudson Valley will support training in cutting edge EV technology for 120 public education automotive technology instructors from Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), local school districts and community colleges across New York State.

Dr. Chris McNally, professor and chair of the Applied Technologies department at Hudson Valley, will administer three train-the-trainer seminars in 2025 and another three in 2026. The sessions will be held at HVCC and two additional State University of New York (SUNY) institutions in other regions of the state to maximize reach and provide a local training center.

McNally oversees five automotive programs at the college, including Automotive Management A.A.S., Automotive Technical Services A.O.S., Automotive Technical Services-Autobody Repair A.O.S., and Electric and Autonomous Vehicles A.O.S. and Certificate. There are 121 students currently enrolled in Hudson Valley’s automotive programs. 

Congressman Paul D. Tonko said, “HVCC has long served as a local and national leader in training the next generation of technological innovators, and I’ve been proud to support their efforts to equip students with the tools they need to thrive in clean energy industries like the electric vehicle sector. This new partnership will ensure that educators across New York State have access to cutting-edge EV training — helping to build a talented workforce ready to drive our clean energy future forward. By expanding career opportunities in this growing field, this initiative will bolster our local economy while helping us on the path toward a cleaner future. I look forward to seeing the lasting impact of this program on our students, our educators, and our communities.”

Senator Jacob Ashby said, "This new partnership exemplifies HVCC's ongoing commitment to workforce development in growing industries. I'm grateful for NYPA and Electrify America for their support, and I'm pleased that area students will have yet another opportunity to attain the skills that power rewarding careers and enhance our regional economic competitiveness."  

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "This partnership between the New York Power Authority and Hudson Valley Community College, made possible by Electrify America, will help ensure that our future professionals are prepared to succeed in the electric vehicle industry. As we work to transition to a more sustainable future, it’s vital that we give our workforce the skills needed to lead in this new era of technology. Programs like this will help create more opportunities for good-paying jobs, support local economies, and improve the quality of life for families across our region."

Assembly Energy Committee Chair Didi Barrett said: “Today’s announcement of funding to support educators in the electric vehicle industry is great news. Training and educating the workforce of tomorrow is crucial to building out infrastructure, expanding production and meeting our climate goals. I encourage schools and instructors in my Assembly district and across the State to participate in this exciting program.”

Additional EV Education Programming Lined Up for Fall 2025

To further increase efforts in advancing electric vehicle education and workforce readiness across the state, NYPA and Hudson Valley will also co-host the 2025 Charging Forward Convening this fall at the college’s Troy campus.

The event will include presentations by leaders in the EV field, provide an overview of existing certification and training opportunities, and broaden shared knowledge among educational institutions, employers, technical training programs and other key stakeholders across the state. This network of professionals will discuss the future of the EV workforce and ensure that New Yorkers are prepared to seize training and employment opportunities on a pathway to successful EV industry careers, the current fastest growing segment of New York’s clean energy transition.

In another initiative to open new career paths to students, NYPA has donated 22 retired hybrid and electric vehicles from its fleet, level 2 chargers and EV tool kits since 2021 to community colleges, BOCES and school districts across the state.

***

About New York Power Authority

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 17 generating facilities and more than 1,550 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.

About Hudson Valley Community College

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College is the largest community college in upstate New York and offers more than 85 degree and certificate programs in three schools: Business and Liberal Arts; Health Sciences; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and administers the Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training at no cost to those who qualify. One of 30 community colleges in the SUNY system, Hudson Valley enrolls more than 20,000 students in credit and non-credit courses and is a recognized leader in distance learning and workforce development. The college has more than 90,000 alumni. To learn more, please visit www.hvcc.edu.