Training for Green Jobs Focus of New TBED Initiatives in California and Michigan

Much emphasis has been placed on the importance of green jobs in the next economy as the nation continues to shed jobs in traditional industries. Creating these specialized jobs is a major priority for states across the nation that will compete for renewable energy industries. Two recent announcements in California and Michigan illustrate efforts underway to recruit and prepare a workforce capable of meeting critical industry needs.

California
Leveraging $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding with additional public and private funds, California is investing $75 million to establish the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program. The goal is to train more than 20,000 new or re-skilled clean energy workers specifically targeting unemployed, underemployed, and new workers, according to the governor's office. Training through community colleges, workforce investment boards, and partnership academies in high schools will prepare workers for jobs as solar installers, sustainable landscapers and water systems designers, and green building designers.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the program will help to develop a highly-trained workforce, enabling the state to expand its clean energy industries and drive a strong, green economy in the state.

Remaining funding will come from the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, the Public Interest Energy Research Program, the California Employment Development Department Workforce Investment Act funds, and public-private partnership matching funds. The first round of solicitations for proposals was released last month and proposals are due Sept. 16. More information is available at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/greenjobs/.

Michigan
A group of 10 Michigan community colleges has joined forces to produce the next generation of skilled workers for the local wind turbine industry with the goal of meeting the needs of Michigan companies and attracting out-of-state renewable energy industries.

The group, known as the West Michigan Community College Collaboration, wants to establish a $16 million wind energy training and testing center, which would likely be located in or around northern Allegan County, according to an editorial by the Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board. A study by Michigan State University's Land Policy Institute concluded that Allegan County, which has a unique proximity to urban areas, eventually could support up to 300 turbines as wind farm demand grows. The Traverse City and Thumb regions also are flagged as top on-shore wind-capturing locations, the editorial board notes.

Although each of the institutions has its own alternative energy instructional courses, a wind turbine site is needed for hands-on class work and community education, said Julie Parks, director of workforce development for Grand Rapids Community College in a Muskegon Chronicle article. The center would train skilled workers to service the turbines and wind farms. To launch the effort, the group is currently seeking state and federal grants, according to the article.