ACCA member Louis Fuentes Educates State Energy Officials on Workforce Needs and Safety

AC Contractors of America Board member Louis Fuentes represented the HVAC contractor point of view related to workforce issues.

https://www.contractingbusiness.com/residential-hvac/press-release/20871161/acca-educates-state-energy-officials-on-workforce-needs-and-safety?src=social&account_type=FBPAGE&account_name=ContractingBusiness.com&utm_campaign=Awareness&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&linkId=73932353

Arlington, VA (September 18, 2019) – The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) participated in the National Association of State Energy Officials annual meeting on September 17, 2019. ACCA Board Member, and President of California based HVAC company, Air Conditioning Guys, Louis Fuentes represented contractors at the NASEO event to help our nation’s energy officials learn more about the workforce needs of HVAC professionals, and why state energy officials should invest in quality installation training programs that help raise the bar in the contracting industry.

“It’s important for our nation’s energy officials to take part in helping address the workforce challenges facing contractors,” says Fuentes. “The HVACR industry needs to ensure that our workers are well-educated and highly skilled because the products we design, install, and maintain are complex mechanical systems that consume significant amounts of energy and use hazardous or toxic chemicals. ACCA encourages policy makers across the country to follow in President Trump’s footsteps highlighting the contributions skilled workers make to our economy. No president has been so committed to address the skills gap in the U.S. His focus on the skilled trades is having an impact and ACCA is proud to support his Administration’s initiatives.”

Louis also spoke with Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board, and Andrew McAllister, the California Energy Commissioner about California’s rush to phase out HFC refrigerants and the dangers of a state-by-state approach.

Louis highlighted that ACCA is working on a national phase out that will ensure uniform phaseout schedules regulatory certainty, with an emphasis on safety and contractor education programs.

ACCA is a member of NASEO and helps them work on best practices for the skilled trades and education programs.

For additional information, please contact ACCA Manager of Communications, Deb Weiner at deb.weiner@acca.org or 703-824-8862.