Minuteman High School Nets $50,000 Grant for Energy Tech Program

Minuteman Career & Technical High School has been awarded a $50,000 grant to buy equipment for a new energy technology program, which will cover energy efficiency, building science, weatherization and solar thermal and solar photovoltaic components.

The high school was one of four schools and organizations chosen by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to receive grant money toward training and equipment to prepare students and clients for opportunities in the clean energy sector.

"These grants will help schools and institutions across the Commonwealth prepare Massachusetts residents for rewarding careers while ensuring that our burgeoning clean energy industry has the highly trained workforce it needs to grow and flourish," said state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, who chairs the center's board of directors, in a press release.

The center solicited proposals in January from organizations to develop programs to train individuals for clean energy jobs and create a pipeline of skilled workers in the clean energy sector. In addition to Minuteman Career & Technical High School, other organizations receiving grants include CTI's YouthBuild Lowell, Western New England College and Sheet Metal Local Union 17 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.

"These projects will provide essential real-world learning platforms for clean energy training in this potentially high-growth area in the clean energy industry," said Pat Cloney, executive director of the center, in a press release.