SECTION 1. Chapter 23J of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8 the following sections:-

Section 9.  There is hereby established and placed within the center a program to be known as the pathways out of poverty initiative.  Said incentive shall award grants to clean energy companies, regional employment boards, community-based nonprofit organizations, educational institutions or labor organizations to enable said entities to carry out training programs associated with the clean energy industry that lead to economic self-sufficiency.  The center shall give funding priority to entities that: (i) serve individuals in families with incomes that do not exceed 200 per cent of the poverty level, as determined by the United States Census Bureau, or a self-sufficiency standard for the local areas where the training is conducted that specifies the income needs of families, family size, the number and ages of children in the family and geographical considerations; (ii) engage in partnerships with public and private employers and community-based non-profit agencies, and; (iii) establish career pathways for hard and soft skill development and salary advancement.  Said grants shall be awarded so as to ensure geographic diversity within the commonwealth.

Section 10.  The center shall conduct an annual study detailing the commonwealth’s clean energy sector.  The study shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of the growth rate of the commonwealth’s clean energy sector, including the number of in-state jobs and businesses.  A copy of said study shall be submitted on or before December 1st of each year to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate.