The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced its involvement in the National Association of State Energy Officials Annual Meeting on Sept. 17. ACCA Board Member, and President of California-based HVAC company, Air Conditioning Guys, Louis Fuentes represented contractors at the NASEO event to help the 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,” said 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.”

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

Fuentes 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 the association work on best practices for the skilled trades and education programs.