$2 million in grants have been awarded to three community colleges in New Mexico; Central New Mexico Community College, Santa Fe Community College and Mesalands Community College were the recipients of the grants from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, made possible by a grant of $6 million to the state by the US Department of Labor.

The grant will to develop green job training programs or to expand existing programs in the areas of wind energy, green building, solar energy, biofuels and energy efficient design and were awarded to the three community colleges in the state due to their status as centers of excellence as determined by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. The community colleges have received this funding not only to develop and expand green energy programs, but to develop and implement training programs in green energy for people in their own communities and others by training green energy trainers who will then assist other community colleges throughout the state to develop their own green energy courses and programs, according to Celina Bussey, the Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.

Bussey has stated that these community colleges will begin a process of providing education in green energy-related industries at educational institutions all across the state, beginning in areas where renewable energy related businesses are already growing.

For its part, Central New Mexico Community College plans to expand its existing solar photovoltaic energy and solar thermal energy programs via a new sustainable technologies laboratory created by the college in September at their north Albuquerque Workforce Training Center. Central New Mexico Community College will also put together a train the trainer program for schools across the state including the development of manuals for instructors and students alike.

Santa Fe Community College plans to expand its existing green building, energy efficiency and biofuel-related non-credit and certificate programs as well as working to assist Central New Mexico Community College, Luna Community College and Doña Ana Community College develop curricula in the same industries.

Mesalands Community College will expand the number of courses in wind energy provided by the Mesalands Wind Research and Training Center. The center will also begin to develop new courses in response to demand in the wind energy sector.