These projects will leverage more than $95m in funding from community colleges, universities, utilities and manufacturers to develop and implement training programs.
The selectees estimate that the programs will train approximately 30,000 Americans, who will help to modernize the nation’s electrical grid and implement smart grid technologies in communities across the country, DOE said.
The programs will focus on training activities that support electricians, line workers, technicians, system operators, power system engineers, cyber security specialists and transmission planners.
The selections include support to develop training programs and to conduct personnel training for current and future employees. Workers will receive training on the transmission and distribution systems and new grid systems, such as smart meters, phasor measurement sensors and advanced communication networks.
The award selection process focuses on developing and enhancing workforce training programs for the electric power sector. 33 projects have been selected to receive $41.6m in Recovery Act funds for the development of new training programs, strategies and curricula related to the electric power sector and the smart grid.
These new programs include projects at universities, community colleges and technical schools that will help serve as models for training or retraining workers across the country.
The awards also include support for the strategic training and education in Power Systems initiative, which will develop cross-disciplinary electric power system programs at the university and college level.
Furthermore, 21 projects will receive $57.7m in Recovery Act funds to conduct smart grid workforce training programs for new hires including displaced workers and military veterans.
There are also retraining programs for electric utility workers and electrical equipment manufacturers to further enhance their knowledge of smart grid technologies and their implementation.
These projects will help ensure utilities and manufacturers have the necessary trained workforce to support the ongoing smart grid deployment projects, including Smart Grid Investment Grants and Demonstration Projects funded under the Recovery Act.
