Rowan University will host a full-day conference on Sept. 16, focused on how to expand New Jersey’s energy capacity and cultivate a skilled energy workforce. The conference, titled “Powering a Resilient Energy Future: Developing New Jersey’s Energy Workforce in a Changing Landscape,” is a joint effort by the university’s Sweeney Center for Public Policy and the Rowan Energy Collaborative (ROWEC).
The event, which is free to the public, will be held at Rowan University’s Chamberlain Student Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is co-sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the New Jersey Utilities Association.
Tim Sullivan, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and Michael Martucci, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2, will deliver keynote speeches.
According to Sweeney Center Director Mark Magyar, the conference will address the “extensive changes in federal energy policy, soaring demand and rising electricity prices” that have upended long-term planning for energy and workforce needs. The goal is to develop “pragmatic solutions” for a resilient energy future.
The conference will feature panels on four key topics:
- Strategies to expand energy supply while balancing cost, reliability, and environmental needs.
- The impact of shifts in energy projects on workforce planning.
- Employer perspectives on workforce needs and challenges.
- How education and training programs can adapt to changing job demands.
Speakers will include prominent figures from state government, academia, and the energy industry, such as former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, President of Rowan University. The Rowan Energy Collaborative (ROWEC), established in 2024, aims to serve as a resource for implementing energy solutions by connecting university experts with industry and government stakeholders.
The free conference reuires registration and breakfast and lunch are included.
To register, click here.
