Nunez Awarded $320,000 Grant for 20 Wind Energy Technology Program Scholarships

Nunez Community College in Chalmette has been awarded $321,772 in grant funds from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to fund 20 scholarships in the college’s new Wind Energy Technology Program.

The grant is one of four awarded by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program (GRP) totaling $1.1 million. According to a press release from Nationalacademies.org, the four projects “will support young people ages 16-25 in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and credentials necessary to enter careers in the future energy workforce.”

The Wind Energy Technology program at Nunez, which will launch with the Fall 2024 semester in August, creates a pathway for students to earn an associate of applied science degree in wind energy technology that is recognized and certified by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO). Graduates will be prepared for immediate employment as a wind turbine technician or transfer to an institution of higher learning for additional studies.

Students in Nunez’s Wind Energy Technology program, a partnership with Energy Innovation of Norway, may also earn a career and technical certificate in offshore safety and survival, and a technical diploma in wind turbine mechanics and maintenance.

The GRP scholarships for Nunez’s Wind program will support the first cohort of 20 students.  

“This opportunity epitomizes Nunez’s commitment to developing a highly skilled, prepared workforce for the nation’s energy transition,” said Reggie Poché, Nunez Dean of Instruction. “The College looks forward to engendering other significant investments in training a workforce for the burgeoning wind energy industry.”  

The remaining GRP awards include $160,000 for the line worker program at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, $471,874 for the Texas Research Alliance for Clean Energy at Texas A&M University, and $149,470 for Solar and Electrical Concepts Apprenticeship at Unity In the Family Ministry Inc., in Pensacola, Fla.

More from Nationalacademies.org

The existing energy infrastructure and knowledge base in the Gulf region is advantageously positioned to integrate clean energy technologies as part of the nation’s commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In addition to leveraging existing infrastructure, a skilled technical workforce will be essential to strengthening the diverse energy environment of the future.   

Skilled technical workers utilize science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge in their jobs and careers, but they often do not have a bachelor’s degree. These skilled technical workers are a vital part of the science and engineering enterprise that enable the benefits of STEM to reach the American public, such as in the deployment of clean energy technologies.   

A 2017 report from the National Academies determined that “an insufficiently skilled workforce imposes significant burdens on the U.S. economy, including higher costs to workers and employers and lower economic productivity.” Careers for skilled technical workers typically provide good-paying jobs with fewer formal education requirements, facilitating quick entry into a workforce in which they are more likely to have a higher paying job and lower unemployment relative to other jobs at a similar education level.  

“We’re really excited about this funding opportunity because it allows us to support local students, employers, and the economy by providing pathways for young people to enter high-quality jobs located in the Gulf region that will support the energy transition,” said Karena Mothershed, senior program manager of the GRP’s Board on Gulf Education and Engagement.  

The National Academies’ Gulf Research Program is an independent, science-based program founded in 2013 as part of legal settlements with the companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. It seeks to enhance offshore energy system safety and protect human health and the environment by catalyzing advances in science, practice, and capacity to generate long-term benefits for the Gulf of Mexico region and the nation. The program has $500 million for use over 30 years to fund grants, felloships, and other activities in the areas of research and development, education and training, and monitoring and synthesis.   

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.  

About Nunez Community College
Nunez Community College is a student-centered institution that delivers relevant and innovative curriculum integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities leading to academic credentials and workforce opportunities. Nunez serves a vital role in the community by engaging with partners to support student success and personal growth. Nunez Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Nunez Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Nunez is located at 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA. For more information, visit www.nunez.edu.