One of the underlying themes of the renewable energy economy is the opportunities it can present to those economically disadvantaged. A new program being offered by a New Mexico Community College is doing that.
Mesalands Community College’s North American Wind Research and Training Center in Tucumcari, New Mexico is offering what looks like an exciting twelve-week program for an Occupational Certificate in Basic Wind Energy Technology.
Funding for the program is received through a $523,751 Wind Centre of Excellence grant. The program offers US citizens who are low-income, displaced, veterans, or veteran spouses the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the wind industry.
“This program is designed to educate students on the basics of the wind energy industry, as they gain real-world training experience climbing our wind turbine,” said Mesaland Community College’s President Dr. Mildred Lovato, on the importance of the program in a press release. “We also want to stimulate our local, regional, statewide, and national economy by preparing individuals for a rewarding career in a growing field,” she said.
The program over the twelve weeks will teach students the basics in wind turbine maintenance, tower safety, wind economics, and wind turbine technology. Some of the courses being offered will be in hydraulics, electricity and mechanics. Accepted students will also have an opportunity to get some hands on learning with a 1.5 megawatt wind turbine, near the center. The program begins on February 13. For more, go to Mesalands Community College’s website.
It is great to see programs like the one being offered at Mesalands Community College popping up, as such training programs are critical to our transition to clean energy jobs and making this industry accessible to those who would not normally have such an opportunity.
Photo Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory
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