U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced more than $30 million to train engineering students in manufacturing efficiency to usher in the next generation of industrial energy efficiency experts.
Through the Industrial Assessment Center program, university teams will gain skills that will enable them to conduct energy assessments at a wide variety of facilities. These student engineers will focus on reducing energy waste, saving money, and becoming economically competitive in the global marketplace.
Through this industrial efficiency training program, students will gain hands-on experience and training for jobs in a growing global sector, while at the same time, reducing energy waste for American businesses and helping to make our manufacturing facilities more competitive," says Secretary Chu. "This program will make sure that the next-generation of American workers has the education and skills they need to further our transition to a clean energy economy."
Engineering students will undergo extensive training in industrial processes, energy assessment procedures, and energy management principles, which will be put to use working directly with small and medium-sized industrial and manufacturing facilities around their communities.
Under this funding, each Industrial Assessment Center will be expected to train at least 10 to 15 students per year, conduct approximately 20 energy assessments annually, and perform extensive follow-on reporting, tracking, implementation, and management-improvement activities.
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