Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Clean Energy Economy Construction with Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD Episode 140

The Future Of Work

Mar 04, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 140

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Episode description

What does it take to build a clean energy economy? Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD (California Forward), believes it’s about more than just new technology—it’s about putting communities first, preparing for the emerging career opportunities, and making sustainability a part of everyday decision-making. Creating a greener, more resilient future requires everyone to play a role, from policymakers to local businesses to individuals. CA FWD invites people to share their thoughts and questions on the clean energy transition because real progress happens when we work together.

You’ll learn:

Why community benefits plans are important for large-scale energy projects.
How job opportunities in regenerative agriculture, adaptation planning, and wetland restoration contribute to sustainability.
Why zoned industrial land is crucial for manufacturing growth in the clean energy sector.
Why partnerships between educational institutions, industries, labor, and government are essential for workforce readiness.
What job opportunities are emerging in the clean energy economy, and how individuals can prepare for them.

About the Guest:

Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD, has spent over two decades at the intersection of climate change, energy policy, and equitable economic development. She previously served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, leading initiatives like the Community Benefits Plan under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative. Before that, she was Director of California’s Office of Planning and Research and Senior Climate Policy Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, spearheading programs like California Jobs First and the state’s first integrated climate budget. Gordon also founded the Risky Business Project, assessing the financial risks of climate change, and held leadership roles at think tanks like the Paulson Institute and the Center for American Progress. She holds a J.D. and a master’s from UC Berkeley, teaches at UC Berkeley, and serves as a Non-resident Scholar at Carnegie California.

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