Preparing a skilled workforce for careers in the emerging offshore wind industry will be part of SUNY Morrisville’s renewable energy plans thanks to a $500,000 grant.
The college is among eight SUNY institutions to receive a grant from the Offshore Wind Training Institute (OWTI), nearly $4 million announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul recently, to prepare students for careers in the growing offshore wind industry.
The winning programs will expand workforce development and training initiatives for jobs in constructing, manufacturing, installing, operating and maintaining offshore wind farms.
“As New York State continues to lead the nation in our transition to clean energy, the Offshore Wind Training Institute is helping to ensure our state’s workforce is prepared to fill the jobs we need to reach our ambitious energy goals,” Gov. Hochul said in a news release. “Through this grant program, we are equipping students with the tools they need to fill the clean energy jobs of the future and build a greener New York for generations to come.”
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SUNY Morrisville plans to utilize awarded funding to establish a skilled workforce, through wind technician training beginning this summer, as well as provide K-12 career awareness, recruiting and coordinating with workforce development organizations.
Additional plans include running high school and BOCES teacher workshops with sessions on offshore/industrial wind among the topics.
Training will take place in the college’s state-of-the-art laboratories and classroom facilities at the Agricultural and Clean Energy Technology (ACET) Center.
SUNY Morrisville’s renewable energy Bachelor of Technology and renewable energy technology Associate in Applied Science programs are already paving the way for students to play a key role in renewable fields and prepare for clean energy jobs of the future.
Degrees provide students with advanced technical education in the rapidly growing field of renewable energy, including grid-tied solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, micro hydroelectric, heat pumps and bioenergy systems.
SUNY Morrisville also brings 15 years of renewable energy workforce development experience through its Renewable Energy Training Center (RETC), along with developing and teaching K-12 renewable energy and sustainability educational events, developing and leading train-the-trainer workshops, and teaching entry-level and advanced technician training and advanced system design using real-world use cases.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said of the grant, “To meet climate goals set by both President Biden and Gov. Hochul, the offshore wind workforce needs to grow significantly over the next several years. That’s where SUNY and the Offshore Wind Training Institute come into play by developing programs to prepare the highly skilled, in-demand workforce that will power New York’s sustainable energy future. All of these projects represent the significant strides SUNY is taking toward advancing New York State’s climate goals.”
Gov. Hochul previously announced the first round of $4 million for OWTI grants in May 2023. In total, $8 million for 28 grants has been awarded across SUNY campuses.
