SFCC to Lead New Mexico Centers of Excellence in Biofuels

February 20, 2012
AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com

anta Fe Community College has been named to lead statewide Centers of Excellence in Biofuels and Green Building/Energy Efficiency under a New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions State Energy Sector Partnership grant. The U.S. Department of Labor established the partnership grants to stimulate green jobs training programs. As a result of the more than $1 million initiative, students enrolled in SFCC’s Biofuels and Green Building/Energy Efficiency programs will benefit from the up-to-the-minute curriculum, new equipment and, in some cases, free tuition.

“As a Center of Excellence, we will provide students with the next generation of biofuels production and algae cultivation technology as well as state-of-the-art green building expertise,” said Randy Grissom, SFCC’s Dean of Economic and Workforce Development and Director of the Sustainable Technologies Center. “This will equip students with a higher skill level, making them more attractive to industry.”

The college serves more than 15,000 students per year in its credit, noncredit and adult basic education programs. “SFCC is unique in its ability to provide education in both the most current technologies and in traditional trade skills,” said SFCC President Sheila Ortego. “We create educational programs that are able to respond to local workforce development needs.”

To increase educational opportunities in green jobs training, SFCC is partnering with Central New Mexico Community College, Doña Ana Community College and Luna Community College, among others, to boost existing training programs, making them more relevant to today’s green job opportunities. Biofuels training includes lectures and hands-on opportunities for developing biodiesel, ethanol and algae production skills and workplace competence. The Green Building/Energy Efficiency programs will ensure that all curricula is OSHA compliant and will add new certifications established by the Building Performance Institute; a national standards development and credentialing organization for residential energy efficiency retrofit work. To match training with industry need, SFCC will coordinate with the NM Mortgage Finance Authority, Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association, Build Green NewMexico, the City of Santa Fe, the counties of Santa Fe and Bernalillo, HomeBuilders of Central New Mexico, PNM, NM Gas Co., and Grow Raton.

Through the grant, SFCC and its partners are offering subsidized or free classes to those who qualify. Learn more by contacting SFCC’s Biofuels Center of Excellence at (505) 428-1332, the Green Building/Energy Efficiency Center of Excellence at (505) 428-1805, emailing greentraining@sfcc.edu or visiting www.greentraining.sfcc.edu