ECSU energy institute nets fed funds

The Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) at Eastern Connecticut State University has been selected to provide counsel to three major energy projects that fall under energy grants from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The ISE was granted $200,000 over two years to serve as educational program design consultant to “Pathways from Poverty.”

Pathways for Poverty is a $4 million project that brings together local partners to provide green-collar job occupational training and job placement for unemployed disadvantaged individuals living in areas of high poverty in 12 Bridgeport neighborhoods.

The grant supports the City of Bridgeport’s B-Green 2020 initiative.

The U.S. Department of Labor has also awarded the ISE $92,000 of a $3.3 million grant for the “Connecticut Green Jobs Partnerships” project.

With this grant, the ISE will provide technical training to local building code officials on the proper installation of renewable energy systems.

The project will build the capacity of the statewide education continuum to inspire students to pursue careers in green industries.

In addition, it will build the capacity of the statewide workforce development system, ensure training and education programs match the evolving workforce needs of energy sector employers, develop a seamless set of career pathways in green industries and connect green workforce development efforts to related economic development efforts.

The U.S. Department of Labor also granted $300,000 to the Connecticut State Energy Plan.

The grant will be used to upgrade the state building code and train local code officials with the Connecticut Department of Public Safety on the project.

ISE was awarded $30,000 over two years to teach code officials how to conduct, construct and administer a pre- and post-training assessment of the department’s energy code compliance.

The ISE has a proven track record of successful service. In 2004, the ISE was named the recipient of the National Energy Star Partnership Award for Community Leadership in Energy Education for the US Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.