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NIST, DOE provide funds to close clean energy workforce gap

February 21, 2012 — 8:46am ET | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program will provide up to $1.3 million for training programs to provide commercial building professionals with critical skills needed to optimize building efficiency, reduce waste and save money.

These programs will help reach the Better Buildings Initiative goal of improving energy efficiency nationwide in commercial and industrial buildings by 20 percent by 2020, reducing energy costs by nearly $40 billion and creating American jobs.

The funding will support training centers targeted at improving energy performance in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants and the training will be tailored to building operators, building managers and energy service providers. The solutions provided through training are expected to save businesses 5 to 20 percent on their energy bills.

"Everywhere I go, across the country, CEOs and business leaders tell me that one of their chief concerns is having the highly skilled workers they need to power their companies. They believe, and this administration believes, that a globally competitive economy requires a globally competitive workforce, and that begins with by funding training programs like these," said Secretary of Commerce John Bryson. "Simply put, training is the key to helping American workers meet the demands of our rapidly changing 21st century economy."

For more:
- visit the Energy Department's Energy Education and Workforce Development website
- see this article