By Kathy & Thom Gottberg (2/1/10)

         The new College of the Desert Energy Enterprise Center, located in Palm Springs near Gene Autry and I-10 and which officially opened in January, is further evidence that green jobs and stimulus money are active in the Coachella Valley.  And there is plenty more to come.   Larry McLaughlin, Director of the ATTE Program at COD, has been on the job for the last nine months and is working hard to keep the momentum going.

            College of the Desert is actually only one of ten ATTE Regional Centers within the state of California.  This is largely because our area is one of the few places in the country with enormous potential for a diversified renewable energy economy.   Not only does the Coachella Valley have a significant wind resource in the Banning Pass, there are also plans for large utility-scale solar development planned between the Coachella Valley and Blythe.  On top of that, low-level volcanic activity near the Salton Sea holds great potential for geothermal plants.  All of these growing industries will need a trained workforce and bring both industry and income to our valley as it is accomplished.   Or as Larry McLaughlin says in relation to the green economy, “I can’t think of another industry that has a better opportunity to create jobs.  We need to take steps to insure that we can fill that need.”

            The COD Energy Enterprise Center works in conjunction with Community College Economic and Workforce Development Programs (CCEWDP).  Together they have applied for and been awarded a grant from both the state and federal government of over $800,000 to fund the program.   This money has already been put to work by opening the Center and graduating sixteen students from the “Wind Turbine Technician Training Program”—the first of many such classes, which will be held at the center.   That particular seven-week class of 208 hours total offered students both classroom education and hands-on wind tower experience before graduation.   The second wind technician class is now in session and another class related to utility-scale solar will be beginning shortly.   The solar class will offer 210 hours of classroom and hands-on training over 11 weeks.   At the preset time only WDP qualifying unemployed or under-employed students are eligible.  However, McLaughlin hopes that open enrollment for the public will be available by the end of 2010.

            Larry McLaughlin is proud of the high quality curriculum and instructors that are offered at the training center.  But he also says they will continue to improve the courses as they evolve.  In addition, COD hopes to add classes around design and management in the future.   And while they have already received great community support, the Center is always on the look out for more industry donation and collaboration.