DRI receives U.S. grant to train renewables workers

A $148,000 federal grant to train workers for renewable energy industries marks another step toward establishment o the industry as a key player in the northern Nevada economy.

Just as important, says an executive of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, the training program is a cooperative effort of numerous private- and public-sector groups.

Desert Research Institute won the $148,800 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to develop worker-training programs for geothermal, solar, wind and biofuels projects.

DRI will work with Truckee Meadows Community College, the Workforce Investment board, the Nevada State Office of Energy and private companies to analyze the skills that workers need and design courses to train them.

DRI faculty will help develop classes for TMCC students and update TMCC instructors about recent developments in renewable energy.

"There needs to be an energy-savvy workforce that responds to the state and federal legislative incentives for alternative energies, increasing fuel prices and local demand for energy efficient commercial improvements," said Roger Jacobson, who will head the project for DRI.

He said there's already a need for workers with advanced training in operation of renewable facilities.

Jason Geddes, manager of government affairs for EDAWN, said the training program fits nicely with the economic development agency's efforts to develop higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs in the region.

He said the effort is important, too, because of the way it combines the muscle of a variety of agencies to get the job done.

"The key to this is collaboration," Geddes said.