Harkin Announces Funds ofr Wind Energy Degree Programat Iowa Lakes Communitry College
HARKIN ANNOUNCES FUNDS FOR WIND ENERGY DEGREE PROGRAM AT IOWA LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that Iowa Lakes Community College is receiving $496,000 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education to create an Associate degree program in Wind Energy and Turbine Technology. Harkin, the ranking Democrat of the Senate panel that funds education initiatives, secured these funds in the 2005 Senate Omnibus Appropriations bill.
"Wind power is an increasingly utilized renewable energy source throughout much of rural America, and very notably in Iowa," Harkin said. "I am pleased that Iowa Lakes Community College will have a degree program to further educate Iowans on the benefits and potential of wind energy."
The program will focus on construction, maintenance, repair and operation of wind turbines, which are becoming a growth industry in Western Iowa. Specifically, this funding will allow Iowa Lakes Community College to establish state-of-the-art instructional facilities necessary to adequately develop industry core competencies of future wind energy technicians; develop and implement seven courses necessary to expand the current curriculum from a diploma offering to a two-year degree program; and support faculty professional development to ensure a broad perspective reflective of technology utilized by the major industry wind energy providers.
Harkin has long advocated greater production and use renewable sources of energy, such as wind power and biobased fuels. In April, Harkin introduced legislation to open the popular Wind Production Tax Credit, which has helped spur rapid growth in the development of wind power by utilities and other large investors, to farmers and other small investors by removing two roadblocks in the tax code. He recently co-sponsored legislation to extend the Wind Production Tax Credit through 2010 and led a bipartisan group of 20 senators to offer an ambitious Renewable Fuels Standard to boost ethanol and biodiesel use and cut the U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=237842