Preparing for Green Jobs

A green economy hinges on skilled workers. UNL engineers are teaming with the Nebraska Department of Labor and others to train Nebraskans for green jobs.

The state labor department received a three-year, $4.8 million State Energy Sector Partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Labor through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including $1.25 million to UNL.

UNL expertise factors into the partnership’s three focus areas: renewable wind, biofuels energy and energy-efficient green building technology. Kevin Grosskopf and Jonathan Shi in The Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction head UNL’s efforts.

UNL will coordinate training and help develop training materials to meet green industry standards. In 2011, UNL and partners will begin training instructors to, in turn, teach participants. The program is expected to train more than 700 Nebraskans. Partners include several state agencies, workforce development groups, community colleges, construction groups and unions, and energy companies and cooperatives.

"We want to enable our state to take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of emerging green industries," Grosskopf said, especially wind, biofuels and green building.

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Credits

The 2009-2010 Annual Report is published by the
University of Nebraska−Lincoln Office of Research and Economic Development. More information is available
at http://research.unl.edu or contact:

Prem S. Paul
Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
301 Canfield Administration Building
University of Nebraska−Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0433
(402) 472-3123  •  ppaul2@unl.edu

Writers/Editors:
Vicki Miller, Monica Norby, Ashley Washburn, Elizabeth Banset, Office of Research and Economic Development

Contributing Writers:
Gillian Klucas, Kim Hachiya, Cara Pesek
Some articles are based on earlier stories from University Communications and IANR News Service and written by Kelly Bartling, Troy Fedderson, Sara Gilliam, Sandi Alswager Karstens, Daniel R. Moser, Judy Nelson, Tom Simons,
Steve Smith, Carole Wilbeck

Photography/Illustrations:
Joel Brehm, Brett Hampton, Craig Chandler,
Alan Jackson/Jackson Studios, Greg Nathan,
Bruce Thorson, Robert Cope, Laurence Smith
Historic photos, page 22, courtesy Joyce Clarke Turvey

PDF/Print Design: Sym Labs

Website Design: Joel Brehm