The U.S. Department of Energy is investing in clean energy job training in Yuma. They awarded $2 million dollars to Arizona Western College to grow the region’s skilled workforce. This is the first time we have received one from the Department of Energy, says Reetika Dhawan, vice president of the entrepreneurial college of Workforce & Healthcare Programs at AWC.
They’re partnering up with Arizona State University to implement some of the university’s curriculum into new programs for clean energy right here in Yuma. AWC said this funding will help create at least five different certifications at the school related to clean energy.
They’ll be partnering up with local businesses as well as Arizona Public Service in order to offer job training and apprenticeships for students in that field. The funding is part of the Department of Energy’s goal to help industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities save energy and reduce emissions. Dhawan said this money will lead to more clean energy opportunities for students that will, in turn, help small businesses in Yuma save energy.
“At the same time we also want to do energy audits to support small businesses who need to do clean energy projects. We will have the student graduates from ASU and AWC support with those energy audits at no costs,” Dhawan said.
Dhawan said they’re hoping to have some of these new clean energy programs ready for this coming fall semester.
