Green Energy Boom Spreads to Oregon Community Colleges

By Abby Haight, The Oregonian

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The growth of green energy businesses in Bend spurred another kind of boom -- in college classrooms.

One example: Kathy Walsh, vice president for instruction at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, helped launch programs to train students in weatherization and solar photovoltaics. The classes quickly filled. But the programs were just a first step. Central Oregon hopes to win federal stimulus dollars to introduce a degree program in resource management technology by 2010 and expand its technology center. 

"The aim in the training is to match growth and need in local industry and take workers, in the short term, to match industry," Walsh said. "It's not an easy time to make changes, but obviously this has to have a high priority, both in terms of industry change, in joblessness and in diminishing resources."

Statewide, the economy has shaken the job market in more ways than one. Laid-off workers are looking for retraining in family-wage jobs. High school graduates seek careers in healthy, growing industries.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski believes Oregon's future is tied to renewable energy industries, saying wind, solar and other renewables are the "entrance to a new economy." The Obama administration wants to create 5 million "green collar" jobs in the next decade.

Oregon's other two- and four-year colleges and universities, both public and private, have responded with program decisions that could prepare Oregonians for careers in sustainable energy and green technology. They've increased courses and programs to cover a gamut of green careers, from researching wave energy to sustainable forestry to public policy.

Responding to industry 
The state's community colleges, where tuitions run about $70 per credit for residents, have rushed in response to industry demand.

"The key thing for us is trying to implement a vision to match up the needs of employers, who are already here, with the talent pool development we offer," said Greg Harris, associate dean of public information, marketing and student recruitment at Chemeketa Community College in Salem.

Chemeketa recently partnered with Wildwood Inc. and Pacific Biodiesel Technologies Inc. to seek $10 million in federal funds for a biofuels research and processing plant in Salem. The proposed facility could produce as much as 432,000 gallons of biofuels from algae, woody waste and agricultural waste. It also would be a training ground for about 60 students and could create 450 new jobs in construction and biofuels processing and distribution.

The college estimates there are 1,300 jobs available now in its district for workers with process technology skills.

"They've invested in an industry that they see has potential and they need workers," Harris said. "We're interested in following the market, not just the ivory tower."

PCC's partnerships 
Portland Community College has developed similar industry partnerships with its solar and wind energy programs.

SolarWorld AG, with operations in Hillsboro, asked the college to develop a train-the-trainer program for maintenance technicians. The school, in turn, has developed an associate's degree program in solar voltaic technology, with graduates moving into positions at SolarWorld, Intel, SpectraWatt, Enxco, XsunX and Solaicx. The school also regularly places students from its manufacturing foundations course with Solaicx's manufacturing plant.

"Classes are almost full every term and prospective students keep calling the microelectronics technology department showing an interest in the field," said Dorina Cornea-Hasegan, the department chairwoman.

PCC's electronic engineering technology program has added an associate's degree in renewable energy systems. The program, which has 40 students, receives advice from the wind energy firm Vestas.

Department Chairwoman Sanda Williams said the school is prepared for a flood of students enrolling in the renewable energy systems course next fall.

The renewable energy technology program at Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles set the tone for community colleges with its response to the growth of wind farms on the rolling hills of Oregon and Washington above the Columbia River Gorge. The school expects 500 to 600 technicians will be needed by 2011 to tend to the electronic and mechanical systems on the 400-foot-tall structures.