Energy Career Training Available at Nebraska Community Colleges For complete course listings, locations and other training details, visit the Careers in Energy webpage. |
Nebraska’s Community Colleges now offer programs in renewable energy technologies — wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal and biofuels. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 grants from the Nebraska Energy Office to six community college systems, the colleges have added coursework and training equipment across the state to prepare students for careers in renewable energy fields. Teams of instructors from across the state have developed courses in wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal technologies using national competency standards, and continue to expand the course offerings. Instructors have received training from organizations such as the American Wind Energy Association, National Hydropower Association, Geothermal Energy Association, Solar Energy Institute, and others who offer the most advanced thinking in renewable energy. The Nebraska Energy Office has a Careers in Energy webpage with detailed information.
Metropolitan Community College students work on a solar installation in Omaha. |
These courses have been developed with U.S. Department of Energy, State Energy Program/American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds received by the Nebraska Energy Office.
The Nebraska State Energy Sector Partnership syNErgy Project
syNErgy is funded through a U.S. Department of Labor State Energy Sector Partnership grant and is coordinated through the Nebraska Department of Labor. The goal of syNErgy is to place skilled workers in unsubsidized employment in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency fields by preserving and creating new jobs in power generation, transportation, building, agriculture and waste management markets while reducing the environmental footprint of these energy intensive industries.
Officials at Northeast Community College recently learned that the Nebraska Department of Labor’s syNErgy Program grant funds for students interested in green careers have been increased from $2,000 to $6,000 per student. The grant awards will be available for tuition, fees, books, and required materials for those studying renewable fuels (ethanol), wind energy, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, industrial technology, building construction, and welding at Nebraska colleges.Participants must complete their studies by December 2012.For more information, contact Shanelle Grudzinski at (402)844-7692, email shanelle@northeast.edu or contact Theresa Kratochvil, Nebraska Department of Labor at (402)564-3124, email Theresa.kratochvil@nebraska.gov.