Moraine Park Technical College Launches New Energy Center At Beaver Dam Campus

(Beaver Dam) Officials with Moraine Park Technical College say their new Energy Education Center will help address the growing demand for utility technicians. The ribbon was recently cut at the new facility on the Beaver Dam campus. The demand for gas utility technicians has grown much faster than the supply of skilled workers, primarily due to an aging workforce. Utility officials are excited about the program. Vern Peterson, vice president of field operations for We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service says a highly-trained workforce is vital to provide safe and reliable energy and the new facility will help meet that need for years to come.

Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald says the Energy Education Center is not just another classroom but instead a fully functioning gas utility lab inside while outside offers a hands-on “training neighborhood” where students will work through real gas utility scenarios with the latest technology. Donors contributed a combined total of $325,000 to make the center and technician program a possibility. The first class, which starts next month, is at full capacity. Information on the second class, set to begin June of 2019, will be available this fall. For more information, go to www.morainepark.edu.

 

Photo: Moraine Park’s Energy Education Center major donors participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the open house. Pictured from left to right, Brian Bartels, Alliant Energy; Ted Wadzinksi, Madison Gas and Electric; Tony Lange, KS Energy Services; Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president; Kevin Michels, Michels Corporation; Vern Peterson, Wisconsin Public Service; Sean Nicholson, Michels Corporation.