In this article, you will get detail regarding Scholarship program seeks to boost Maine’s wind power workforce
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Future wind energy technicians can access training for $1,000 thanks to a new scholarship program at Northern Maine Community College.
Earlier this year, the college received $2.2 million in federal funding to expand wind energy safety training. Now a permanent annual fund of $50,000 from anonymous donors will provide tuition assistance.
The scholarships will assist college graduates and help meet the high demand for qualified and certified wind energy technicians in Maine. Offshore projects are in the works in Searsport, the Gulf of Maine and South Portland, and two developments in Aroostook County will create more jobs in the industry.
“The reason for the scholarship is that people believe that what we’re doing is important for the environment, it’s important for the economic development of the region,” said college president Timothy Crowley. “Essentially it helps to solve the climate change problem that we have [and] helps address the workforce challenges we have with renewable energy.”
Wind technician salaries range from $40,000 to $70,000 a year, and college students can get a significant amount of training in nine months, Crowley said.
The funds will allow students to live on campus during the nine-month program. Books and tools are included, and graduates will receive credentials for servicing wind turbines.
The amount is decided based on the capacity of the wind turbine program and the needs of the students, according to Griffin Goins, dean of development and public affairs.
“To take advantage of this scholarship and take advantage of this, the best opportunity would be for students to live on campus,” Goins said. “It allows students from far away to come here.”
The college works with ENSA North America from Mukmonago, Wisconsin, to obtain Global Wind Organization certification in safety education. ENSA provides training, safety and equipment for wind farms, telecommunications and other industries.
ENSA representatives recently visited the Presque Isle campus to evaluate their facilities.
“There are a lot of onshore and offshore projects that companies are looking for to get theirs [Global Wind Organization] certification and they would have to send them in,” said Wayne Kilcollins, wind technician program instructor.
Lectures are available online, but the program requires hands-on training in on-campus labs, Kilcollins said. The basic wind turbine certification covers the electrical, hydraulic and mechanical properties of the turbines along with the technical skills required to operate at the required heights.
Some graduates of the program have gone on to become wind technicians at Mars Hill, Oakfield and Stetsen. They are between the ages of 16 and 64.
When students complete a safety-focused college program, their skill levels are higher than that of a basic wind technician and can be sought after for more advanced work, Kilcollins said.
One of the recent improvements built into wind turbines is direct drive systems to replace the large gearboxes that require the most maintenance, he said. The direct drive goes to a much larger generator, about 30 feet in diameter, to produce the same frequency output.
About six students have already applied for the 18 available places in the program. The campus plans to expand capacity after hiring another faculty member.
Northern Maine Community College will talk with the University of Vermont next week about wind energy education and training, Crowley said.
More articles from BDN
