[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WORKER EDUCATION

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I highlight the importance of 
acknowledging and celebrating extraordinary efforts by Americans who 
have led the way in protecting and preserving America's natural 
resources. I am honored to congratulate three educational institutions 
in my State of Oregon, Columbia Gorge Community College, Lane Community 
College and the Oregon Institute of Technology.
  Recently, Columbia Gorge Community College received $1.6 million to 
support the college's community-based job training program to develop 
skilled technicians for renewable energy facilities such as wind, 
solar, hydropower and biofuels production. The funding is part of the 
Department of Labor's Community-Based Job Training Grant Initiative to 
help community colleges provide area students and workers with the 
skills needed to stay competitive in up-and-coming industries. The 
program is the only one of its kind on the west coast. Just in the 
Pacific Northwest, developers of wind energy facilities will need 300-
500 additional workers in the next decade. Since the fall of 2007, 
Columbia Gorge Community College has offered a 1-year Certificate and a 
2-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Renewable Energy 
Technology.
  Lane Community College in Eugene, OR was recently commended for their 
certificate and 2-year degree programs which train students in energy 
management and renewable energy. Graduates of the program are in high 
demand by renewable energy companies. Lane Community College is quickly 
gaining recognition as a national leader in sustainability and has won 
five awards in the past 2 years, including the Campus Sustainability 
Leadership Award from the Association for the Advancement of 
Sustainability in Higher Education, and the Outstanding College 
Recycling Program Award from the National Recycling Coalition.
  The Oregon Institute of Technology, OIT, also has earned distinction 
for offering the Nation's first 4-year undergraduate degree program in 
renewable energy. The Institute is on track to graduate the first class 
of students this year. Graduating students can seek employment in 
variety of fields including design, engineering, installation, auditing 
and programming within the renewable energy sector. Additionally, OIT 
is working to become the only college campus in the world to be 
completely powered by geothermal energy.
  I believe that we have a responsibility to encourage efforts to 
increase the availability of renewable energy and conserve our natural 
resources. Oregon continues to build on a long history of innovation in 
environmental policy and practice. These community colleges are leading 
the way in educating these workers and providing highly skilled workers 
to the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector in our State and the 
Nation. I commend them for their efforts and pledge my full support as 
they move forward.

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