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.