College wins green jobs funding

College wins green jobs funding
By Reporter Staff
Posted: 10/03/2009

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday announced 34 recipients of $27 million in grants to jump-start the California Clean Energy Workforce Training Program -- including more than $400,000 for a Solano Community College program.

The CEWTP is the largest state-sponsored green jobs training program in the nation. Under the first phase of the program, anticipated to train 5,600 participants, workers will be prepared for hands-on jobs, such as installing solar panels and maintaining electric vehicles to computer programming and researching fuel cell technologies, to help develop the state's low-carbon, clean energy economy of tomorrow.

"California's goals in renewable energy development, climate change reduction, clean transportation and green building are driving green job growth -- and these funds are pivotal to building a workforce to meet that demand," Schwarzenegger said in a press release announcing the grants. "This program represents the kind of innovative thinking needed to steer our economy toward a greener future while targeting the unemployed, underemployed and new workforce members at a time when we must do everything possible to help Californians return to work."

Program participants will receive a variety of green-related degrees and certificates such as certified green building professional, home energy rater, certified photovoltaic installer, water/energy auditor, and weatherization specialist/auditor.

A total of 34 grantees throughout California were chosen to receive program funding through a competitive process. They anticipate training 5,600 participants for clean jobs in weatherization and building retrofit construction, solar installation, green plumbing and energy auditing among others.

The collaborative effort combines funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from the State Energy Program, Workforce Investment Act Governor's Discretionary 15 percent portion of the federal Workforce Investment Act, Assembly Bill 118 Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program plus public-private partnership matching funds.

In the case of Solano Community College, a green building and clean energy pre-apprenticeship training program will get a total of $418,751 including $165,505 from the governors 15 percent portion of the federal Workforce Investment Act and $253,246 in state energy program funding.