Gov. Bill Ritter on Friday praised a nearly $1 million grant in stimulus money to expand and improve weatherization job training in the state.
The Governor’s Energy Office won the $963,130 grant from the from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as part of a competitive process through the U.S. Department of Energy.
“Weatherization helps families save money and reduce their energy consumption,” Ritter said in a news release. “This grant will help build our workforce to meet the increased demands for energy efficient services.”
The state, in partnership with Saturn Resources Management Inc., will use the grant to establish certificate programs with Red Rocks Community College and Pueblo Community College. The goal is to train 460 workers in various components of weatherization in Colorado.
“A well-trained workforce will be a crucial part of America’s clean energy economy in the years ahead,” Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman said in a news release.
Ritter’s energy office has been using stimulus money to ramp up work assisting low-income households by weatherizing homes and making them more energy efficient.
Colorado’s proposal was one of 34 in 27 states to receive a share of $29 million in Energy Department funding.
