NWTC to train area workers, students on energy efficiency with federal funds

NORTHEAST WIS. – Small and midsize businesses in northeast Wisconsin seeking greater energy efficiency can tap new resources at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in 2025, thanks to a $3 million U.S. Department of Energy grant program NWTC and two other Wisconsin technical colleges are participating in.

NWTC wants to get the word out to area businesses as well as students expected to benefit from the Wisconsin Energy Partnership program funds, which stem from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Training and Assessment Center grant.

“This is a brand new program for us,” said Amy Kox, dean of trades and engineering technologies at NWTC. “In Wisconsin, we’re the first group of two-year colleges that are participating in this grant, so that’s pretty exciting.”
Southwest Technical College is the lead awardee of the grant, while NWTC and Madison Area Technical College also are participating in the grant program, Kox said.

While many large companies employ experts trained in energy efficiency, the grant aims to help small and mid-size companies who might not otherwise have access to an energy consultant or other resources, such as a site assessment of energy usage or training for their employees. Wisconsin Energy Partnership hopes to identify $4.8 million in energy savings by assisting companies in adopting cleaner energy, such as solar.

“The funding we’re being provided allowed us to hire a project manager, an energy efficiency, solar and green energy expert who would go out and help the companies. That position is covered in the grant, as well as the ability to offer some classes to companies that would free of charge to them,” Kox said.

The grant also will provide student scholarships for students interested in pursuing careers in energy, and it covers promotional support of the program, Kox said. NWTC is working with Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance to reach manufacturers who might be interested in participating, Kox said. NWTC students are expected to work with area companies on energy audits and clean energy options.

“If a company is interested in solar, we would do a site assessment,” she said.
“Our students will get the opportunity to go out to companies and have some real-life experience,” Kox said, noting that real-world learning is valuable for students as they consider their career paths.

“The ability to assist our project manager with some of the energy audits and recommendations will be a real benefit to the students. We’re also hoping through this we’ll gain some acknowledgement of our energy program so maybe we’ll have more students in those energy programs and we can show more companies the benefit of what occupations like this can bring to their businesses,” Kox said.

NWTC offers a Solar Energy Technical Associate Degree for students interested in pursuing careers as installers, designers, tech sales reps, energy consultants, and electrical and mechanical contractors, Kox said.

Area businesses interested in boosting energy efficiencies can look for ways to generate savings by examining lighting, air ventilation, building envelopes that consider leaking windows, and other innovations resulting in savings, Kox said.

NWTC plans to offer the free training NWTC campuses and on-site at some area businesses, according to Kox. Contact program manager Alex Lange at alexander.lange@NWTC.eud for more information.