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March 6, 2010 (San Diego) -- Congressman Bob Filner is among 111 cosponsors of the Community College Energy Training Act (H.R. 3731), legislation that will support community colleges as they train a new generation of technicians and other workers in America’s renewable energy industry.
“To end our dependence on fossil fuels, we need to start preparing a workforce that can support a sustainable alternative,” stated Filner, the only member of San Diego’s Congressional delegation cosponsoring the bill. “Providing resources to our community colleges focusing on renewable energy job training and education programs will help Southern California become a national leader in renewable energy production.”Investment in community colleges is integral to preparing the workforce for a clean energy economy, he added.
This bill would establish annual grants of $100 million provided jointly by the Secretaries of Labor and Energy to community colleges across the country. Grants would be used to create community college programs that focus on inherent renewable energy resources in a given region, allowing students to train in the fields most likely to affect where they live. Grants would also help boost and upgrade existing programs already providing similar job training and education.
“This will ensure that more students will receive training, and that the programs at community colleges will remain on the cutting edge of the renewable energy industry,” Filner concluded.
The bill has been referred to the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness.
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