Bristol Community College will launch an innovative training experience for the safety and technical certifications required for careers in the U.S. offshore wind industry.
Bristol was awarded $861,097 from the Baker-Polito Administration out of $14.6 million in the funding of Massachusetts Skills Capital Grants to 54 academic institutions to acquire the newest technologies and most up-to-date equipment to best educate students and expand career education opportunities.
“Bristol’s recent Skills Capital Grant supports the college’s commitment to being a leader of innovative offshore wind energy training, with cutting-edge technology and expert faculty,” said Laura L. Douglas, Bristol Community College president. “Bristol is proud to provide the in-demand technical skills and safety training required for high-paying careers in this emerging industry.”
The community college is implementing the college’s National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) to offer basic safety training and technical training programs certified by the Global Wind Organization. The Skills Capital Grant will supply Bristol’s NOWI with the training equipment necessary to offer these specialized certifications and achieve Global Wind Organization accreditation; essential to NOWI becoming a leader in offshore wind training.
NOWI’s basic safety training modules include the areas of first aid, manual handling, fire awareness, working at heights and sea survival, whereas the basic technical training courses focus on hydraulics, mechanical and electrical concepts, related to offshore wind.
Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program
Massachusetts Skills Capital Grants are awarded by Governor Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet which was created in 2015 and brought together the Secretariats of Education, Labor and Workforce Development and Housing and Economic Development to align education, economic development and workforce policies; and to strategize how to meet employers’ demand for skilled workers in every region of the state.
The competitive grants are awarded to educational institutions that demonstrate partnerships with local businesses as well as align curriculum and credentials with industry demand in order to maximize hiring opportunities in each region of the state. The 2018 Economic Development Bill, filed by the Gov. Charlie Baker and passed by the state legislature, established an additional $75 million in Skills Capital Grant funding.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates 43,000 new jobs will be created in the offshore wind market by 2030. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center recently published an assessment of the jobs and economic impacts associated with development of 1,600 MW of wind power in Massachusetts. That study estimated that over the next decade, offshore wind farms will create nearly 3,000 jobs and generate economic impacts between $1.2 and $2.1 billion in the region.
For more information about Bristol Community College’s National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) please click here.
News item from Bristol Community College
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